Bush could face first veto override
A plan to expand a program that insures low-income children has wide support in both houses of Congress.
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar
LA Times
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.
(Continued here.)
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar
LA Times
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.
(Continued here.)
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2 Comments:
The National Governors Association has encouraged Bush to fund the program. Minnesotan's will note that Tim Pawlenty is a lead signatory.
Funny how the President Bush has problems with the program, but back in 1999, Governor Bush expanded the SCHIP program for children up to age 18 with family incomes up to 200 percent of poverty. This expanded the State of Texas SCHIP program for children age 15 through 18 from families with incomes under 100 percent of federal poverty guidelines. The Senate proposal would model the Texas plan if it changed the threshold to 200 %.
Accepting Federal Money is Good Government when you're a Texas Governor who wants to run as the Compassionate Conservative presidential candidate, but Bad Government when you're President.
FYI – During the Republican Presidential candidates debate in Iowa, the question was asked if they approve Republican Senator Chuck Grassley’s SCHIP bill or agree that President Bush should veto the legislation. No one agreed with Grassley and all indicated they preferred private market solutions for American health care, instead of what they said were Democrats' plans for more government control. The Des Moines Register has a quick rundown of the candidates responses link .
Tom Tancredo was the most memorable as I wrote on my blog .
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