Bush: Kids' health care will get vetoed

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

President Bush again called Democrats "irresponsible" on Saturday for pushing an expansion he opposes to a children's health insurance program.

"Democrats in Congress have decided to pass a bill they know will be vetoed," Bush said of the measure that draws significant bipartisan support, repeating in his weekly radio address an accusation he made earlier in the week. "Members of Congress are risking health coverage for poor children purely to make a political point."

At issue is the Children's Health Insurance Program, a state-federal program that subsidizes health coverage for low-income people, mostly children, in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private coverage. It expires Sept. 30.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers announced a proposal Friday that would add $35 billion over five years to the program, adding 4 million people to the 6.6 million already participating. It would be financed by raising the federal cigarette tax by 61 cents to $1 per pack.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070922/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush

[patrioticintellect]

1. Great

You know, if the party knows what's good for them (Republicans), they will keep telling Bush to veto so the world can see the spineless Democrats fail to override his vetoes. Should they decide not to actively pursue this strategy, their party's rule is definitely over in 2008.

[ticapnews]

9. How are the Democrats spineless because they don't have the votes to override a veto?

Are the 49 Democrats in the Senate supposed to hold 17 Republicans at gunpoint and force them to vote to override?

This "spineless" crap is spin fostered by the media and is being used by both sides against the Democratic leadership.

So, tell us O Courageous One, how would you override this veto?

[patrioticintellect]

11. Frame the debate correctly.

How do you think Republicans gain power? They frame the debate and make us think dogmatic beliefs devoid of policy. The Democrats get pulled into defending their patriotism. And I sit at home laughing and shuddering at this pattern which continues to occur.

[madrchsod]

17. they framed the debates because they know the media

will never question them. the media will always push the republican agenda over the wishes of the majority of the american people.

[patrioticintellect]

28. That's not good enough.

We the people allowed this mess to happen. We have to take responsibility. We elect these people. They don't elect themselves. The Democrats can't blame the media. They can't blame voting machines. They can't blame Nader. They can blame themselves. They allowed our nation to get to where it's at today.

[Demit]

2. DO NOT OPPOSE ME, the dictator thundered.

Let's see how the media covers this one. They're always so quick to go along with the White House's accusation that any opposition to them is for 'political purposes'. Let's see if they'll forget that this legislation will help children. Let's see if they point out that the support is bipartisan, and that it is Bush's ego and unitary executiveness that is what will put kids' health at risk.

[OzarkDem]

4. It won't matter

Bush could care less about his own public image since he's not up for re-election. Goopers in Congress will look good by acting bipartisan and supporting kids, knowing they're safe because Bush will veto.

Dems have to figure out a way to out maneuver them, but so far all they can do is lower their own approval ratings.

[asjr]

5. The media are Public Enemy No. One.

The media are responsible for the state of the nation. It sometimes seems to me that the media planned this. They dug themselves in with election 2000 and continue to this day. Engraved in my mind is the figure of Candy Crowley of CNN actually tearing up when she thought GW Bush was not going to be our president. I can't look at her to this day. We need the media, but they should not be allowed to choose our president. While the rest of us see we are on a downhill slide, they just keep enabling the dark side.

[depakid]

26. Absolutely

And it's not just the newsreaders- it's the executives and senior "news" editors who one day need to be called to account.

[OzarkDem]

3. Typical GOP bait and switch

all the Goopers in Congress will vote for the funding knowing they're safe because Bush will veto it.

Private Health Insurance companies don't want to give up this market. Its highly profitable, since kids don't get sick that often and on average their health care costs are much lower than adults. They prefer the mandatory insurance option that would force uninsured parents to by coverage for their kids.

Politicians love childrens health care proposals for similar reasons. Its cheaper and easier to do than coverage for adults and they score a lot of big political points.

GOP plan covers both angles - keeps kids coverage under private plans AND allows the Goopers in Congress to look like semi-human beings.

Dem leaders in Congress should come up with a way to link this bill to some other funding, say for the Iraq War. If Bush vetoes, it cuts funding for Iraq. But they're probably wanting to pull the same hat trick as the GOP - look like they're for insuring kids, but still getting money from the insurance lobby. They have no imagination or conscience.

[Baby Snooks]

6. The Deranged Mind in the White House

"Members of Congress are risking health coverage for poor children purely to make a political point."

You have to wonder what his political point is by opposing expansion of the program to include an additional 4 million children. Maybe Laura still smokes when no one is around and doesn't want to pay the extra 39 cents per pack?

[Bitwit1234]

7. Boy...kids are thrown under the train

BUT....money is being funneled into Iraq to benefit ALL bush's old buddies, the corporations. Just look at one of his main buddies who runs the Blackwater criminals in Iraq. Millions and millions of dollars given to them to run wild and kill. Oh yes, bush really has his priorities. He calls the democrats irresponsible for wanting to provide for children, while he PROVIDES for the rich and crooked in this country.

[angstlessk]

8. American kids don't need no stinking health care, Iraqi insurgents

need more guns...forget the butter, buy the bullets, or we will have to tax the rich.

[Roland99]

10. "I'm vetoing this bill paid for with non-deficit spending but it's the Democrats' fault, ya hear?"

[Mad_Dem_X]

12. F***in' A**hole

That's all I have to say right now, I'm so angry. Is it 2008 yet???

[Benhurst]

13. Good!

We can't afford to throw away our money on such programs.

We're The World's Only Superpower.
We're Number One!

BushAmerica
:patriot:
And this be our motto: "Root, hog, or die!"

Bombs Away!

[FreeStateDemocrat]

14. Past time to be hitting back hard/gloves off: President Bush again called Democrats ''irresponsible'

[rodeodance]

18. too bad some good journalists don't report the truth!

[rodeodance]

19. Truth:--it was the B. ADM. that gave waveries to states with high living expenses!

---whenever you hear that 80,000 $ figure----shot back -Bush did it!



The bill's backers have vigorously rejected Bush's claim it would steer public money to families that can readily afford health insurance, saying their goal is to cover more of the millions of uninsured children. The bill would provide financial incentives for states to cover their lowest-income children first, they said.

Many governors want the flexibility to expand eligibility for the program. So the proposal would overturn recent guidelines from the administration making it difficult for states to steer CHIP funds to families with incomes exceeding 250 percent of the official poverty level.

Rendell said thousands of children will lose health care coverage if Bush doesn't sign the bill.

"The administration has tried to turn this into a partisan issue and has threatened to veto. The health of our children is far too important for partisan politics as usual," he said. "If the administration is serious about solving our health care crisis, it should be expanding, not cutting back, this program which has made private health insurance affordable for millions of children."

[rodeodance]

20. ha-dems think they have turned the tables on Bush!-but he does NOT CARE!

n the Democrat's response, also broadcast Saturday, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell turned the tables on the president, saying that if Bush doesn't sign the bill, 15 states will have no funding left for the program by the end of the month.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

15. FUCK Bush

There, I did it! Not in the habit of using that kind of language, but this is about children! argggggghhhhh

[emmadoggy]

16. Have I said lately

how much I HATE that FUCKING BASTARD??!!!

:mad: :grr: :argh: :hurts: :hurts: :hurts:

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[rodeodance]

21. i have an idea-----lets take that extra 50BILLION he wants for wars and put it some good use!

The idea is overwhelmingly supported by Congress' majority Democrats, who scheduled it for a vote Tuesday in the House. It has substantial Republican support as well.

But Bush has promised a veto, saying the measure is too costly, unacceptably raises taxes, extends government-covered insurance to children in families who can afford private coverage, and smacks of a move toward completely federalized health care. He has asked Congress to pass a simple extension of the current program while debate continues, saying it's children who will suffer if they do not.

[fenriswolf]

30. 200 billion you mean

[tekisui]

22. We can't burden ourselves with paying for children's health--quick 141BIL

for more war.

[Jaap]

23. Well, it's headline news already..

.. here in The Netherlands at the 8 o'clock (CET) news.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for 2008, starting now!

[moondust]

24. Let him go rot in Hell

clutching his veto pen.

[MasonJar]

25. Now there is a great headline. It will need to include all GOPers who fail

to override this despicable action by Bush. We will get their names out there. Let's organize now; I'm in for ad money. We got together money for Helen's flowers (well deserved I might add) so we can stand tall for children. Hey, maybe the Congress will censor us; we'll get money for more ads.

[SKKY]

27. NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND...

...unless of course we're on our way to the hospital- in that case screw em'??!!??!! Fact is quickly becoming much, much stranger than fiction with this presidency.

[Odin2005]

29. May he rot in Hell for all eternity.

How can anyone would be against helping children is beyond me.

[Hand]

31. I wonder if he realizes...

that he'll be effectively signing some children's death sentences. No, I don't wonder. He knows; he doesn't care. He thinks it's funny. And I fucking hate him and his entire foul family.