Rendell Says Bush Child-Health Veto Would Be `Unacceptable'

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Source: Bloomberg

Pennsylvania's Democratic Governor Edward Rendell said millions of children might be left without health insurance if President George W. Bush vetoes a $35 billion measure hammered out yesterday by congressional leaders.

Bush says he will veto legislation designed to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The Senate Finance Committee says the bill would provide medical coverage for another 3.4 million children. Bush said in his weekly radio speech today that expansion of the program would raise taxes on workers and increase spending by as much as $50 billion.

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``A veto battle in Washington would expose millions of children to the risk of losing insurance,'' Rendell said in the Democratic Party's weekly radio address. ``That's simply unacceptable.''

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Rendell also said rule changes announced last month by the Bush administration might halt state efforts to cover more children. Congress should reverse the rule changes when it votes on the new legislation, Rendell said.


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