Bush To Pelosi: Kids' Health Veto Coming

President Tells Speaker That He Will Veto SCHIP Bill Despite Congressional Support

(AP)  President Bush insisted to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Friday that he's going ahead with his promised veto of a major expansion of a children's health program despite its overwhelming approval by Congress.

Pelosi, D-Calif., said she told Bush in a morning phone call that she was praying he would change his mind. "I think I have to pray a little harder," she told reporters moments later, at a Capitol ceremony where Democrats celebrated passage of the proposed $35 billion increase in the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

It's doubtful that any new arguments were made in what Pelosi called "a friendly friendly conversation." She said she reminded Bush that many Republicans voted to raise tobacco taxes to fund a program expansion, and that many governors from both parties support it.

"He said he liked people who don't give up," Pelosi said, but he also made it clear he is not backing down.

White House press secretary Dana Perino confirmed Pelosi's account.

"The president has been very clear for months that if the bill came to him in its current form that he would veto it," Perino said.

She added: "What he did say is, `I'm going to veto this bill, and after that, let's see if we can sit down and come to a compromise.' "

Congress and Bush have agreed to fund SCHIP, at its current level, at least through mid-November.

Eighteen Republicans joined a solid Democratic block Thursday when the Senate voted 67-29 for the $35 billion expansion. The House passed the bill Tuesday, 265-159, with 45 Republicans voting for it.

A veto override requires a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers, a threshold that Republicans say they can prevent in the House. Bush is likely to receive the legislation next week, lawmakers said.

Bush has proposed a $5 billion increase in SCHIP, which now covers 6.6 children from modest-income families that are not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid. The bill approved this week by Congress, he says, is too costly, goes beyond the program's original intent, and shifts too much insurance burden on the government rather than private providers.

Analysts say the legislation would allow about 4 million of the estimated 9 million uninsured children in the United States to gain coverage.

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said SCHIP should be focused on children from families with incomes that fall below twice the federal poverty level - $34,340 for a family of three. Leavitt said the administration wants to talk with lawmakers about other steps that can be taken to help uninsured children from families above that income level.

Democrats feel the SCHIP program is popular, and sense a political blunder on the part of Bush and his congressional allies. Friday's Democratic event, which included Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., featured several small children whose families have relied on SCHIP for medical coverage.

Cameras clicked and whirred as Pelosi briefly held a small boy, and his Elmo doll, on her lap. She said there "are 10 million reasons" for Bush to sign the bill, citing the number of children the proposed expansion would cover.

[glady1930]

So..what else is new? The only thing that no-account thinks money should be spent for are his and Richard Cheney''s wars. I am an old woman, but my greatest wish is to see both of them get what they deserve, and that is not more OIL.

[antoniof123]

Posted by tuckerndfw at 09:23 AM : Oct 01, 2007

Hillary Clinton''s health care is not a living tax it is still private health care but it spreads the heath care over the population and in effect would reduce the cost. Please read it and you will see it is not socialized medicine however, that may be the only right way to go.

Regards.

[abbe91]

"Once again Bush is lying. See factcheck.org on the schip program.
Posted by jjp735i at 10:08 AM : Oct 01, 2007"

Interesting link. Thanks.
Another thing interesting in this bill is that people with pre-existing conditions could not be excluded from coverage. Being more or less able to afford a private insurance is one thing. Find one is sometimes something else.

[abbe91]

"However, Bush really is vetoing the bill because of the tobacco tax. The tobacco lobby is still very very powerful and the tobacco tax could affect the industry.
Posted by pastdue1 at 12:54 PM : Sep 30, 2007".

Apparently, the healthcare *private* companies are even more powerful. They succeeded to keep their subsidies from public taxpayer money.

[jjp735i]

Once again Bush is lying. See factcheck.org on the schip program.

[seer999]

Question: The dems say you have a right to an abortion because you have the right to determine what you do with your own body and at the same time say you can''t smoke because we have the right to tell you what you can do with your own body. Does anyone see a conflict here? Explaination: Just like everything else, the dems want it their own way no matter how contradictory. Pick aside and take a stand!

[seer999]

THank God someone has the back bone to say no to another democratic tax and spend plan. People who make $80K a year aren''t poor and don''t need help with their kids insurance. Good job George W.

[abbe91]

"Identifying yourself as a lefty is a mark of ignorance and stupidity. You have the IQ of a nutsack just like the party you represent.
Posted by tiddsandbeer at 12:58 AM : Oct 01, 2007"

tiddsandbeer : yet another example of name-calling while left with no valid arguments and yet one more good reason to be pro-choice.

[tiddsanbeer]

HEY LEFTYINTEXAS...Your brimming with intelligence.Can you tell me what you feed those squirrels running around in that head of yours? Maybe we can find a cure for liberalitis.
Identifying yourself as a lefty is a mark of ignorance and stupidity. You have the IQ of a nutsack just like the party you represent.

[socrates392]

Hey, I have an idea, we''''re trillions of dollars in debt so let''''s INCREASE spending.

Democrats are even more worthless than Repubs.

Hillary is the most corrupt candidate in the field.

Posted by tuckerndfw at 01:27 AM : Sep 30, 2007

Does it really matter at this point? Besides, even a modest cut in war spending could make up for this.

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Hello adopted Esther, in 1966; you were originally (Meehan), were you born on 9,26,1963? I am your sister Sharon L. Contact V. Tierney at Catholic Home Bureau, NY.

[tiddsanbeer]

blah blah blah...same ol" shi t from the same ol" crowd...Dum dems comparing apples to oranges like a couple of fu k"n monkeys sitting in sandbox comparing peepees.
I guess Pisslosi has the support of all the blue monkeys...who oddly, don''t mind spending hard earned taxpayer money on *** change operations for government employees in her district. Is that an s chip between her legs.....HA!!

[afmca]

Just keep repeating Bush 190 BILLION MORE for Iraq; NO to 35 BILLION for children''s health. That says it all .. the man is a moron and the Repubs family value slogans hypocritical. God will exact his revenge when they all find themselves tending the fires in Hades.

As to those that use the smoke screen concerning tobacco - you get special mention in the moron Hall of Fame. If the US really wanted to increase good health and lower medical price increases they would outlaw tobacco totally and send the CEOs to prison for murder. I would welcome the day when the tax is so high nobody could afford to buy cigarettes - that would be the best day in any smoker''s life.

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Hello adopted Esther you were originally (Meehan), were you born like 9,26,1963? I am your sister Sharon L. Contact V. Tierney at Catholic Home Bureau, NY.

[pastdue1]

Taking from the poor? Who is taking anything from the poor other than the liberals with this tobacco tax?

Posted by s1ckd09 at 11:05 AM : Sep 29, 2007

You are missing the point about why Bush is vetoing because of taxation. While I agree that if the new bill covers people with $80,000 income , it is too inclusive. However, Bush really is vetoing the bill because of the tobacco tax. The tobacco lobby is still very very powerful and the tobacco tax could affect the industry.

[crater7]

ITS TIME FOR CONGRESS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO SEND THIS PRESIDENT A MESSAGE THAT IF YOU WON''T TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN(THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSETS THIS COURNTY HAS) THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL HAVE A "VETO", OF THEIR OWN.
STAY THE COURSE..........

[getloud1]

***** Stop The War & Restore America *****

Why Don''t You Know Ron Paul??????

The corporate media will not give Ron Paul any Exposure. Because, NBC is owned by GE. GE is one of the world''s largest war-makers. They make things
that go boom. They make $Billions on war. A Ron Paul administration would be bad for business. CNN is owned by AOL. Majority share holder is Saudi Royal Talal who is also partners with GHWBush in The Carlyle Group. Another major warmaker. And on and on. You get the picture. This is why they are doing a Media Blackout on him.

Because they don''t WANT YOU TO KNOW THE TRUTH!

Who is Ron Paul?
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/about

Join A ReVoLuTiOn Group In Your City:
http://ronpaul.meetup.com/cities/

Ron Paul Has WON 10 Straw-Polls!
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/straw-poll-results/

RESTORE YOU LIBERTY & FREEDOM
SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT RON PAUL 2008!

** Stop Iraq War Immediately
** Eliminate IRS
** Eliminate Federal Reserve
** Eliminate Government Wasteful Spending
** Restore America''s Work Force & Values
** Restore America''s Freedom!

HE HAS RAISED ALMOST 1 MILLION DOLLARS IN 5 DAYS!
Check out www.ronpaul2008.com

GET UP AND GET ACTIVE TODAY!!!
VOTE RON PAUL 2008!

[bigsk8fan]

gwb is piling on the reasons why america needs to vote democratic the next election.

[nativewoman]

Bush has no qualms about creating incredible debt to sow death and destruction around the world but will not support the health of our very own children. Disgusting!

I have no children by choice. Personally, I have no problem with financing the health care of all our children regardless of the income level of the parents.

[drummer94]

You go sarge. Classic politics and rock and roll.