Posted on 10/03/2007 7:57:36 AM PDT by traumer
US President George W Bush has vetoed a bill to expand a children's health care insurance scheme, after it was passed with a large majority in the Senate. Mr Bush argues it takes the programme beyond its original purpose of insuring children from low-income families.
The vetoed bill proposed higher tobacco taxes to provide an extra $35bn (£17bn) to insure some 10 million children.
Children's health insurance is set to be a campaign issue in next year's elections, analysts say.
Eighteen Republican senators joined Democrats last week in passing the legislation by a 67-29 vote.
But the House of Representatives, which approved the bill by 265-159, was well short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.
It is only the fourth time Mr Bush has used his veto power in the course of his presidency.
Public support
The State Children's Health Insurance Programme (SCHIP) currently subsidises health care for some 6.6 million people, most of them children.
Mr Bush had said he wanted only a $5bn increase in funding for the scheme.
He argued that expanding its coverage further would encourage people currently covered in the private sector to switch to government coverage - and that was too costly.
His decision to veto the bill is likely to prove unpopular with many people, however, correspondents say.
A Washington Post/ABC News poll suggested that more than seven in 10 Americans supported the $35bn increase proposed in the bill.
Democrats in the House say they will seek to persuade sufficient Republican congressmen to change sides to be able to override Mr Bush's veto.
But House Republican leader Roy Blunt said he was "absolutely confident" that he would be able to prevent that happening.
Many Republicans are likely to feel the pressure of public opinion ahead of congressional elections in November next year.
This is one strong criticism I have of President Bush. He let far worse things than this get across his desk.
He will catch hell over this but it also is a big socialized for medicine farce. Why should it pay for anybody’s kids if they make $82,000.00 per year?
Should have had this kind of resolve on illegal aliens Mr. President.
This is one strong criticism I have of President Bush. He let far worse things than this get across his desk.
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As in McCain-Feingold, for example.
He was in a “go along get along” mode for most of his tenure. He’s finally realized belatedly he has to be more confrontational. If he keeps vetoing stuff like this it will serve a purpose - even if congress overrides. Some people actually thought the Dems would be better on spending than the pubbies. Unless they’re in a complete fog stuff like this should disabuse them of that.
I was thinking his signing the largest expansion in the federal government since WWII and his senior drug give-away.
Since when is a salary of $82,000 a year considered poor? The dims really infuriate me with their incremental socialism programs!
Here in Washington State a family of four can qualify for the SCHIP program if they have a household less than 62,000!!!
The group Schip is supposed to help, those on poverty seldom enroll.
Why?
They’re healthcare is paid by Medicaid!!!
Was hoping I wouldn’t have to give up cigars; thank you, Mr. President! Now....BUILD THE GODDAM FENCE!!
The poll is bogus since no mention was made that the lib plan covers up to 400% of poverty, illegal aliens, adults and children already covered who would drop private ins and go on the public dole.
Problem here is the Rep are gutless and are afraid to simply tell the truth because the media will lie about what they said, take it out of context or simply ignore their explanation and say they voted against the poor children.
I was thinking his signing the largest expansion in the federal government since WWII and his senior drug give-away.
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Yes, these were some of the MOST LEFTIST things he has done, to say nothing of the illegals and open border travesty he SUPPORTS and PROTECTS. We all had high hopes for GWB when we worked hard to give him TWO TERMS and a TWO TERM CONGRESSIONAL MAJORITY (most Repubs would have “died” for the chance in the White House under those conditions) and he did NOTHING with it, except “out-liberal” the liberals and forward his personal globalist/utopian agenda. Disasterous leadership and a ruse upon those of us that had hoped he was a conservative. His legacy will be written as such.
And what will the Democrats do when they loose the tobacco tax when everyone stops smoking? They have said that if the President veto’s this bill, they will bring it back again, and again, and again. They shouldn’t be able to bring this up again for a year once it is veteoed.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
"Since when is a 25 yr old college student a child?"
They sure are.
sadly, yes they are. Like the Phoenix Bird, perhaps a star will rise from the rubble.
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