McCurry said Clinton would push the tobacco tax increase during an afternoon event designed to highlight progress in improving child immunization rates.

CNN: White House Says Tax Compromise Unacceptable

Social statistics - what happens to malnutrition, what happens to mortality rates, what happens to immunization rates, what happens to school completion - are not available month by month.

CNN: CHILDREN OF THE CRISIS

"There are some real serious pockets of problems, " said Chris Jennings, the president's domestic policy adviser, adding that immunization rates in some inner-city areas are 20 percent below the national average.

CNN: Clinton to order immunization assessments

The president also was to call on the departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture to come up with a plan to improve the immunization rates for children "at risk" within 60 days.

CNN: Clinton to order immunization assessments

The Clinton administration said while childhood immunization rates are currently at all-time highs, with 90 percent of children receiving the most critical vaccines by age 2, low-income and minority children are less likely to be immunized.

CNN: Clinton to order immunization assessments