In recent weeks, Mr. Clinton has repeatedly joked in speeches that Republican criticism of his wife had made him think Mr. Bush should run for the post of First Lady, rather than President.

Many liberal Democrats object to a strongly worded rebuke, although House Democratic leaders who favor a censure to shield them from Republican criticism that they are being too lenient are confident they would prevail.

Mirroring Republicans' Gripe Mr. Rostenkowski's letter gave unintended support to Republican criticism of the House's Democratic leadership.

House and Senate conferees agreed on a bill several weeks ago before Republican criticism began anew.

House Democrats in particular support censure as a means of condemning Mr. Clinton's misconduct without removing him, and of shielding themselves from Republican criticism that they are being too lenient.

Like previous commercials, it portrays Mr. Clinton as a stalwart protector of "values," in an effort to inoculate him against Republican criticism of his character and his crime-fighting fervor.

And it has left him in a highly unusual position: defending the administration while at least indirectly underscoring some of the Republican criticisms leveled against it.

The broader goal appears to be protecting President Clinton from Republican criticism of his trade policies.

The chairman, Gov. Roy Romer of Colorado, made his remarks in response to Republican criticism after the Democratic National Committee belatedly delivered four boxes of documents to the Senate panel last week.

In response to Republican criticism, Kathleen Sebelius, the Secretary of Health and Human Services said that states, including some with Republican governors, had previously asked Congress to allow waivers.