Posted on 07/22/2007 6:31:19 PM PDT by Baladas
WASHINGTON — As they tell the story in Texas, when George W. Bush was governor, he fought hard to put austere limits on a new federal-state plan to provide health insurance for children of low-wage workers in the state. Outmaneuvered by Democrats, he corralled the program's chief sponsor on the statehouse floor and conceded defeat, saying, "You crammed it down our throats."
Now, almost 10 years later, President Bush is threatening to veto federal legislation that would renew the same partnership — the State Children's Health Insurance Program — and expand it to cover more of the nation's nearly 9 million uninsured children.
If he follows through on that threat, Bush could face a first in his presidency: a veto override.
The bill is considered Washington's most important legislation this year on health coverage.
And Bush's fellow Republicans are worried that Democrats may do more than back the president into a corner — they could use his opposition to tar GOP incumbents in next year's elections.
If the House and Senate approve the bill and Bush vetoes it, some Republicans say, there is a good chance that many in his own party would join with Democrats in overriding him.
"I personally believe there is a reasonable chance he'll be overridden, but I don't want to make any predictions," said Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), one of the authors of the original program.
On Thursday, a 17-4 vote in the Senate Finance Committee to approve the compromise approach showed how unpopular Bush's position is in his own party. A majority of the panel's Republicans joined Democrats in voting to expand the program by $35 billion over five years, far more than the $5 billion in additional spending Bush has proposed.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Yes, it is the slippery-slope towards "universal healthcare" and this has, does, and will apply to "undocumented immigrants".
I must be confused — I thought he said in the SOTU that this program was one of his most important priorities?
“the compromise approach showed how unpopular Bush’s position is in his own party”
Override his veto you schmucks and you’ll learn a thing or two about unpopularity.
No Republican ever won a thing trying to out liberal professional liberals.
Ah yes, it’s ‘for the children’ thing again.
If we’re going to ignore the constitution and have it anyway, then the only method is to have grants not go to states, but directly to federally sponsored clinics, ideally staffed with those who have received government grants to go to medical school.
If nothing else, the exposure over and over again of those who rip off medicare has demonstrated that throwing more money at a problem just means drawing more people to catch it as it falls. The more you reduce government oversight, the more people can be helped.
By the by, what taxes are they hiding in it to pay for the 35 billion, or is this another one of those ‘we’ll surprise you later’ types of things?
No, the point of the article is that Bush hates children. Actually, because most of the children that are without insurance are minorities, it proves Bush hates brown and black children.
The LA Times holds up liberal hopes for ANY type of defeat for Bush.
You’re right. I wonder...is there any way they could work fuzzy puppies into it? Bush hates fuzzy puppies too...
Uh, I believe that “children” is defined up to AGE 25 in this bill! seriously.
Well, yeah, that and the fact that Orrin Hatch said it could be overridden, but it’s his own bill.
You know as well as I that that newspaper lives in liberal lala land - it happened to Bush ten years in Texas, so if they really, really want it to happen, it can happen again.
Like magic.
No, I think it is the general welfare clause.
Or maybe not. Honestly, I do not believe that the Leftists in Congress even bother citing the Constitution to justify their policies.
For a "living document," the Constitution doesn't look well.
According to Fred Barnes, the Republicans have enough votes to sustain the veto. I think he has better sources then this LAT puke.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/906hmois.asp
No, it's another of those 'screw the smokers' things.
I was thinking the same thing. Must be a slow night :)
Yeah, I don’t see how even in their world they could get the two-thirds for an override.
From your link, 13 percent approval, huh?
"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
Is this the $10 per cigar tax?
Yes, 13% approval. However we do have to keep in mind it is a Zogby poll so the numbers could even be worse for the Dems!
I’ve heard he sets um up on fence posts on the ranch and ‘caps’ with his 45../s/
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