Posted on 01/27/2008 3:01:33 PM PST by LdSentinal
House Democrats failed again Wednesday to override President Bush's veto of their plan to increase spending for a children's health insurance program.
The final vote, which was 260-152 with 42 Republicans voting for the plan and 151 Republicans voting against it, fell 15 votes shy of the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.
It was the second time in three months that Democrats were unable to override Bush's veto, and Congressman Patrick Murphy, D-8, said Wednesday that he was fed up.
“This fight shows what's wrong with Washington,” Murphy said. “While dozens of Republicans in the House and Senate as well as 43 governors from across America support health care for children, far too many of my Republican colleagues refused to break from George Bush and do what's right.”
Before Wednesday's vote, Democrats tried to tie the slumping economy with the need to expand the program for families that may be hit hardest by a potential recession. There are currently 6,700 Bucks County children enrolled in the health insurance program, and Murphy said that number would likely grow with a grim economic forecast.
In October, a veto override attempt failed to garner a two-thirds majority with a 273-156 final vote and 44 Republicans voting to override the veto.
In a speech on the House floor, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz pointed to a recent Joint Economic Committee report that claimed that 1 million additional children may become eligible for government-subsidized health care due to a rising unemployment rate.
“Now is not the time to turn our backs on these children,” Schwartz said. “It is time for my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join us to support America's working families when times get tough.”
The plan would funnel an additional $35 billion in federal funding over the next five years into the State Children's Health Insurance Program and increase enrollment from 6 million to 10 million children during that time. The expansion would be funded by a 61-cent increase in the federal excise tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products, but Bush has said the bill would be a step towards socialized health care. When Bush vetoed the plan for a second time in December, he said the expanded program would encourage families to replace private insurance with a health plan that would be paid for by the government.
The plan to expand the children's health insurance program is popular with Pennsylvania's congressional delegation. Only three of Pennsylvania's 19 House members, Congressmen John Peterson, R-5, Joseph Pitts, R-16, and Bill Shuster, R-9, voted against the veto override. Both Pennsylvania senators, Arlen Specter, a Republican, and Bob Casey, a Democrat, support the expansion plan.
Murphy's district includes Bucks County, some districts of Abington, Upper Dublin and Upper Moreland in Montgomery County and two wards in Philadelphia. Schwartz's district includes the majority of Montgomery County and Northeast Philadelphia.
Time for the people to get rid of Patrick Murphy. He’s admitted now that he and his associates are total failures at leadership.
25 year old children?
Only in DC can that make sense.
““This fight shows what’s wrong with Washington,” Murphy said.”
Bush’s veto is one of the few right things in Washington lately.
hmm I guess Bush is tired of being a “compassionate” conservative when dems have congress
What’s really wrong with Washington is too many flakes like Murphy.
Good news, indeed!
So, 25-year-old “children” from families making $80,000/year can’t force me to buy their health insurance for them? Good. Thankfully, Bucks County Republicans will show up at the polls next election and get rid of that simple p.o.s. Murphy.
Snippy. More likely, he knows a socialist agenda when he sees it.
he’s not the total bad guy that some conservatives like to think
I don’t know who these congress critters are representing; but it sure ain’t us.
I guess Bush is tired of being a “compassionate” conservative when dems have congressThe Democrats in Congress will use every opportunity to expand any, and all, programs to conform to their Socialist agenda. They no longer even pretend to hide their true agenda. I haven't located an updated list, but...
Snippy. More likely, he knows a socialist agenda when he sees it.
Reminds me of a pouting 4 year old when told to clean up his/her room before they can play and then go to Micki D's. They go back and pick up 2 more toys and then want their way and cry until they get it.
What is it with their (the Dims) incessant need to constantly grow government with every working day when in session?
So you would like to replace him with a Big D like you did with Rick Santorum.
There are two options elect a liberal Republican or an even more Liberal Democrat.
The right wingers tried to take down Specter and only succeeded in taking down Santorum.
YOu could take down spector and ensure that Democrats keep control of the senate for the next 50 years.
The battle has been enjoined:
Marine Reservist Plans to Challenge Murphy (Tom Manion, father of Travis)
10th Amendment: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.In fact, Jefferson reflected on the Founder's division of federal and state government powers by noting that the Founders had trusted the states, not the federal government, with the care of people. See for yourself.
"Our citizens have wisely formed themselves into one nation as to others and several States as among themselves. To the united nation belong our external and mutual relations; to each State, severally, the care of our persons, (emphasis added) our property, our reputation and religious freedom." --Thomas Jefferson: To Rhode Island Assembly, 1801. ME 10:262 http://tinyurl.com/onx4jSo regarding Congress's attempt to override the President's veto of the health care bill, Congress actually had no business trying to exercise non-existent federal powers by making the bill in the first place.
This post (<-click), while addressing a tax related thread, attempts to show in general how the health care bill is a consequence of FDR's 10th A.-ignoring establishment of his New Deal programs, in my opinion.
(If anybody feels inclined to comment about the post referenced above, please do so in this thread.)
On the other hand, the people can always exercise their Article V powers to amend the Constitution to properly authorize the feds to manage health care. But until the people choose to do so, health care remains a state power issue.
The bottom line is that the people need to wise up to the very serious of widespread corruption in the federal government, particularly where the 10th A. protected powers of the states are being ignored, a consequence of FDR's dirty politics. The people need to quit sitting on their hands and petition lawmakers, judges and justices who are not upholding their oaths to defend the Constitution, demanding that they resign from their jobs.
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