Eight Democrats face pressure to override SCHIP veto

[babylonsister]

Eight Democrats face pressure to override SCHIP veto
By Halimah Abdullah | McClatchy Newspapers

* Posted on Wednesday, October 17, 2007



WASHINGTON — Under pressure to help override President Bush's veto, at least five of the eight House Democrats who voted initially against expanding a popular children's health insurance program now say they'll switch sides.

In behind-the-scenes conversations, Democratic leaders pressed Reps. Jim Marshall of Georgia, Betty Castor of Florida, Bob Etheridge and Mike McIntyre of North Carolina, Dan Boren of Oklahoma, Baron Hill of Indiana, Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and Gene Taylor of Mississippi to reconsider their positions on the $35 billion spending increase for the State Children's Health Insurance Program, commonly known as SCHIP.

Despite reservations, Castor, Boren, Hill, McIntyre and Etheridge said they'd support a veto override.

"After careful consideration, I have decided to vote to override the president's veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Program," Etheridge said Wednesday. "I remain concerned that a tobacco-tax increase could harm North Carolina's rural economy."

The House is to vote Thursday on whether to override Bush's veto of the legislation, which would add millions of children to the nearly 7 million who receive government-provided health insurance because their families have difficulty buying private coverage. Bush said the plan was too costly, and many observers expect his veto to stand.

A bipartisan group from the Senate Finance Committee reached out to the Democratic holdouts urging them not to be swayed by arguments that expanding the program would mean covering middle-income children and adults and illegal immigrants.

"It's now coming down to the wire and I think the pressure this time is enormous," said Thomas Mann, a political analyst at the Brookings Institution, a center-left Washington think tank. "The Democrats feel as if this issue will work clearly to their advantage."

more...

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/20601.html

[mitchtv]

1. WTF is Dennis doing in that company?

I'll bet there's a good reason, but winning one is impoartant too

[Doctor Panacea]

2. No excuse

No, there is no excuse for his behavior.

[Hand]

3. I think he said he was going to vote to override.

He didn't like the original bill, but he likes Chimpy less (MUCH less). Having made his point, he'll now make his other point, I believe.

[rodeodance]

5. Hope you are right

[silverojo]

6. Dennis the Menace had an "important" reason

He wants to make sure the illegals' children are insured, or he won't vote to override the veto.

As if this is any excuse to let the children of American citizens be without health care.

As if the kids he's supposedly so concerned about aren't *already* eligible b/c they were born in the U.S.! They are citizens, after all. Which means that his refusal to vote to override the veto is harming these same kids he's claiming to be championing.

Seems to me that Dennis ought to look into the citizenship laws and the eligibility requirements of these programs, before becoming a traitor to ALL children as well as his Party. :mad:

[Beelzebud]

9. Get your facts straight.

Kucinich voted no because it revoked coverage for LEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

and he said he would vote to override the veto.

So take your lame name calling bullshit, and make sure your facts are straight before you start calling him something I've only heard Republicans call him up until now.

[in_cog_ni_to]

11. That's wrong. Legal immigrants ARE covered after they have lived here for 5 years.

I just heard Chris Van Hollen say this on WJ this morning, so I KNOW I'm right.

[Solon]

10. It was for LEGAL immigrant's childrens, don't LIE about shit...

For fuck's sake, get a grip, you'll blow a blood vessel.

[bluestateguy]

4. Kucinich is a fool if he votes no tomorrow

I'll give a pass to the tobacco district Democrats, but Kucinich's logic here is just bizarre. In any case, he's made his point, but it's silly to say that the program can't be expanded at all because he didn't get everything he wanted in the bill.

[JimmB]

7. Setting the record straight on Kucinich

Just to set the record straight on Kucinich:

1) Kucinich stated 8 DAYS AGO that he was going to VOTE TO OVERRIDE Bush's VETO

2) Kucinich's reason for voting against the bill was that CHILDREN OF LEGAL (read that again -- LEGAL!) IMMIGRANTS are excluded from the bill. It had nothing to do with illegal immigrants.

The McClatchy story above is irresponsible for not even mentioning these facts.

You only need to google "Kucinich schip veto" to see several articles on this, or see
http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2007/10/kucinich_will_vote_to_override.html

[ellisonz]

8. Welcome to DU!

:donut:

[in_cog_ni_to]

12. Legal immigrant's children are not excluded. They are covered after they have lived here for 5 years

n/t

[JimmB]

13. Why five years?

Legal is legal. Why should kids wait 5 years if their parents are legal immigrants? Their parents are presumably paying taxes. Why make them wait for the benefits?