Bush Is Prepared to Veto Bill to Expand Child Insurance

[intaglio]

Source: Digg News

WASHINGTON, July 14 — The White House said on Saturday that President Bush would veto a bipartisan plan to expand the Children’s Health Insurance Program, drafted over the last six months by senior members of the Senate Finance Committee.

The vow puts Mr. Bush at odds with the Democratic majority in Congress, with a substantial number of Republican lawmakers and with many governors of both parties, who want to expand the popular program to cover some of the nation’s eight million uninsured children.

Tony Fratto, a White House spokesman, said: “The president’s senior advisers will certainly recommend a veto of this proposal. And there is no question that the president would veto it.”




Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/15/washington/15child.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1184499520-mcR0cqcEOg53aHepgYmfTA&oref=slogin

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I hope for all those children that there is a 67/33 vote in favour in the Senate

[HeeBGBz]

1. That child-hating, scum-sucking, rat bastard

What is his fucking brilliant reasoning behind that one?

[indepat]

13. Hey, with the money needed to keep us safe from terra by occupying Iraq, there's not money enough

to assure children have excess to health care.

Edited: added needed.

[thecrow]

17. Compassionate Conservative

yeah right.

This is a hateful thing to do to our contry's children.
History will remember him well.... there will be books written about what a hateful little smirk he was.

[truckerb1968]

31. He doesn't hate Children he just loves money more.

The Lobbyists have given him fat briefcases to veto this one.

[acmavm]

2. Just braver than f**k in telling the American public, at least the middle

and lower classes of the American public, to go to hell. Amazing.

Yep, just ask for more money to spread 'democracy' in the Middle East george. The next time you ask will determine pretty much the fate of the party if the dems aren't careful.

[sutz12]

3. The Republicans' biggest fear...

Somewhere, somebody is getting something for free. :scared:

[buff2]

6. I wonder where and how they can claim "compassionate"?

They are the most selfish greedy uncaring breed of people on this planet.

[ninkasi]

21. Well, except for the wealthy

and big corporations, that is. Nothing's too good for them, according to Herr Busch. But a bunch of kids who are uninsured, nothing is too spiteful to subject them to. Compassionate conservative, right. :sarcasm: :sarcasm: Oh, and of course Chimp wants us to remember that human life is sacred, unless you've passed through the birth canal. After that, you're on your own, kid.

[divinecommands]

23. No one gets anything for free...

It would be better to admit that SCHIP transfers money from some to people (children) who need it more.

[sutz12]

43. Nice try, but sell your snake oil elsewhere..

Everybody knows that "free universal healthcare" is tax supported. The overriding issue is that care is free at the point of use. When you need a doctor, you don't need money, or forms, or a sack of potatoes to bargain. You go get treatment.

Save your condescending crap for the RW sheeple.

[Donnachaidh]

44. nitpicking BOLLOCKS

The only *transfers* that *might* be happening is the money that won't be going into some medical corporations pocket.

Hey -- I know -- let's transfer the 2.2 BILLION we're spending on IRAQ into the Schip program. Problem solved.

[MiserableFailure]

47. divine commands huh?

from who, jesus? divine commands from the genius macroeconomists hayek and rothbard? yeah right. make a wrong turn somewhere huge?

[shanti]

25. you caught that too, huh?

sickening, just sickening :mad: we wouldn't want anyone to get *gasp* FREE HEALTH CARE, now would we??!! oh the nerve!

[tabasco]

4. Compassionate conservatism on display.

Thanks, republican voters.

[buff2]

5. I've always believed in the motto:

"What goes around,comes around" but after watching this dumb maniac pushing his nazi policies through I don't believe it anymore. This is one monster who will never have to pay for his evil deeds.:argh:

[liberal N proud]

7. Further proof he doesn't give a shit about anyone but a bu$h

And maybe Dick!

[Wcross]

8. Good. I like the idea of the program but I don't like the funding.

From the story-"The new spending would be financed by an increase in the federal excise tax on tobacco products. The tax on cigarettes would rise to $1 a pack, from the current 39 cents."

Why fund this off the backs of people addicted to cigarettes? I would rather WE ALL pay for the program by either reducing military spending or increasing the general income tax rates. How about a tax on soda pop and fast food? How about a tax on booze? An added gas tax?

My state just bumped up cigarette taxes by .42 cents in order to pay for education programs. This of course is ON TOP of the dollar per pack the tobacco companies added in price to pay for the tobacco "settlement" they reached with the states a few years back. Oh, my state has already pissed away all that money with NONE of it going to help smokers quit or help pay for health costs.

If you want people to quit smoking then just ban the damn things. There is no reason to make people pay more because they have a habit YOU don't approve of.

[sutz12]

10. Good point about the funding....but the program should be expanded....

:)

[flaminbats]

32. IMO taxes don't exist to curb habits..

the price we ask for anything we sell isn't supposed to reduce demand. I have never understood why smokers complain about the cigarette tax! if I smoked, it would be pleasing to know most of the money I wasted on each pack isn't just going to a tobacco corporation already awash in profits but to help an uninsured child.

if Grassley supports this bill, Congress can probably override this veto! I hope Democrats in both Houses work together on this one, because it would be a huge victory for our side!

[Demit]

35. I'm sure you have an activity you indulge in that others would consider a waste of money.

Let's keep taxing that to the hilt. Then you too can be pleased that your money is not wasted, but instead diverted to a good cause.

[sutz12]

40. Yeah, like driving.

:evilgrin:

[flaminbats]

50. the more our debt increases, the higher taxes become..

so if smokers dislike higher cigarette taxes, if drivers hate the gas tax, and if those who drink dislike the alcohol tax..just remember this is the price we pay for Reaganomics.

no I'm not a puritan. yes I waste money everytime I buy another six pack, yet I support higher taxes on all forms of liquor..especially on the beverages I purchase! raising this tax doesn't stop me from drinking, but if it provides healthcare for the uninsured and reduces deficit spending..then I'll support it!

[Wcross]

37. As a tax payer I would like to help all people have that pleasure.

Why should I have all the pleasure of helping uninsured children. I think it would be wonderful if EVERYBODY had the pleasure of helping.

[sandnsea]

36. I agree with you

I think they've pushed the cigarette tax as far as they can. 25% of the population can not be held responsible for services required by at least 40%, if not more. I think it's time for a rib steak and chili dog tax, those cause as many heart attacks as cigarettes do.

[bluestateguy]

9. I should be angry, but I'll also be proud to see Democrats actually stand up to this Administration

One reason why people are frustrated with the two party system is that they do not see any real differences between the parties. Passing this bill for Bush to veto helps to show that the two parties have very different ideologies when it comes to government's role in health care policy.

Stop pushing the paper and get that bill up to Bush's desk ASAP!

[DeDeDe]

11. We pay taxes for the WAR but not for the children???!

And how sad the Republicans will use any excuse for this as well....IDIOTS!

[cutlassmama]

12. Any government that puts war before the health of it's citizens has it's priorities wrong.

[GreenTea]

14. Bush & corporates despise the poor and workers we are just scum to them.

The money should go to corporations and not people...keep the war for profit continuing the Dow & CEO are doing great!

[RamboLiberal]

15. Might this be the bill an override could happen?

Are there enough Republcans in favor of who would buck Bush? I'd love to see at least something this bastard got defeated on!

[Botany]

16. Greedy mother fuckers .....

.... so some "less than republican child" will die because of lack of
health care @ least he/she wasn't aborted and the HMOs & insurance companies
all make out like champs,

[depakid]

18. 67/33 wouldn't be enough

They'd also need all of the so called "Democrats" in the house- and some Republicans, too.

It'll be interesting to see who crosses over this time.

[bamacrat]

19. That's pretty shitty.

Its one thing to refuse to offer health care to those who can take care of themselves but to deny children is not right.

[nodehopper]

45. sick people who need health care can't "take care of themselves"

[spirit of wine]

20. That was that Schip program I heard about

What is wrong with Bush?

http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/chiphome.htm

Anything good, he destroys

Anything bad, Bush promotes

The Godfather is on , I mean the movie not our Dear Leader.

[Miss Chybil]

22. Why on earth would we want to insure our nation's children

when we can use the money to bomb other, preferably brown, people?

/f*ing sarcasm

[cureautismnow]

24. Hell, impeach him for this.

That son-of-a-bitch needs to be stopped NOW. 18 more months of this crap is ridiculous. Apparently, snuffing out Iraq and Afghanistan children didn't satisfy his blood lust. He wants to take out poor, American kids. Damn this evil bastard. :mad:

[Zorra]

26. Bu*h is a pathetic, horrible little man. n/t

[Beetwasher]

27. Damn, These Really Are Some Seriously Sick And Demented Mutherfuckers

n/t

[LynnTheDem]

28. George W. bUsh doesn't care about 8 million American kids.

Not a surprise.

[Greenboy]

34. What happened to NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND? Oh yeah, its more * BS!

[degreesofgray]

29. simply unconscionable

to just let the children die while we pour money into the Iraq moneyhole

[progressoid]

30. I guess that's what Pro-Life means.

[Greenboy]

33. "Pro-Life" only in the womb. Hypocrites!

[progressoid]

38. Hey, welcome to DU Greenboy!

[0rganism]

39. on the up-side, at least Bush can finally be described as "prepared"

I haven't seen the words "Bush" and "prepared" together in a headline in... well, I can't remember exactly, but it's been a while.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

41. From WSJ: Dubya's "fantasy Island" alternative: 'Tort Reform' and more tax giveaways

that won't help the uninsured or do much for the poor.

Unbelievably, Dubya's position apparently is that SCHIP is not sufficiently focused on poor children, but that a better alternative is "tort reform" combined with income tax deductions that won't do anything for those too poor to owe much in income tax.

From http://www.opinionjournal.com/forms/printThis.html?id=110010271

"POTOMAC WATCH: Socialized Medicine Showdown

It's time for some GOP spine on health care.

BY KIMBERLEY A. STRASSEL

Friday, June 29, 2007 12:01 a.m.

... The setting is the upcoming debate over the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or Schip, a brawl that could well determine the future direction of U.S. health care. Democrats see expanding Schip as the first step toward socialized medicine. If Republicans fail to meet that challenge with their own more compelling plan for market-based, consumer-driven reform, it may prove the beginning of the end of today's private model.

... Republicans beat back the original HillaryCare by warning about Canadian waiting lines, but a negative message alone won't do this time. Our third-party-payer system, while still stacks better than France, is nonetheless collapsing--and Americans know it. Republicans can't simply be against socialized care, while not being for anything else. The left also chose its first battle wisely, with a program for "the children." The GOP's only Schip response so far has been to grouse about cost. And it's realizing a message of "We're for the children, just not as much as them," isn't a political winner.

... The good news is that after 10 years of tinkering, Republicans have laid the foundation for bigger reform, from Health Savings Accounts to tort liability reform. The more intense policy debate this week instead focused on the biggie: how to revamp the tax code to get that money to individuals. ... By the end of this week, the architects were coalescing around a tax-credit approach...

The challenge then will be to get the rest of the party to overcome its nervelessness on health care. ... Most Republicans don't understand health care, so don't want to talk about it; many grimace at voting down money for "kids"; quite a few face tough elections and would rather not jump into an unknown debate. Reformers also aren't getting cover from should-be allies. Insurers and lobby groups like PHRMA--who ought to understand that a bigger Schip is a threat to their long-term business--are instead focused on short-term profits and PR images. Republican governors-- who'd be huge beneficiaries of an individualized market--seem to only care about keeping federal dollars flowing into state coffers. If Republicans don't unify now, they might not get a better chance."

[sutz12]

42. "Most Republicans don't understand health care"

Kind of says it all, doesn't it.

Tax credits are meaningless for people making 12k a year. When one doesn't have the money to spend in the first place, the credit might as well be fairy dust.

When will Republicans come to realize that most of the poor don't choose to be poor?

Whoops! Sorry. Can't risk denting their denial, can we now? :shrug:

[BeHereNow]

46. More "FAMILY VALUES" courtesy of the REPUKIAN Reptiles.

2 Billion a week in Iraq- that's what we are spending.
Healthcare for our children? Naw...
FUCK these people!

I swear, I think we need to stop paying taxes
until we have a government of the people, by the people
and for the people.
BHN

[calimary]

48. EVERY child left behind.

We know who they're working for and whose interests they care about protecting most. And it sure isn't America's children.

[Why Syzygy]

49. They need to not send him anything

that cannot be over ridden by vote. Nothing. He does not need to be in charge of any more legislation. This way he won't be able to use any signing statements either because he will veto rather than sign. Our legislatures have got to work together and leave him out of the loop.

[Maribelle]

51. Bush has forced poor working people to believe the American Dream is ...

To be able to afford a buy home for their children? No, that's not what Bush had in mind.

To be able to send their kids off to college? No, that's not their dream at all.

So what is the American Dream of the Bush push? Bush has forced poor working people to believe the American Dream is for their children to receive just barely enough health care to keep the children alive.

[BluePatriot]

52. what a scum-sucking bottom feeding evil little man (nt)