Democrats Gear Up To Fight Bush's Veto

Congressional Leaders Seek Allies Across The Aisle After President Vetoes Kids' Insurance Bill

(CBS/AP)  Democrats unleashed a stream of harsh rhetoric Wednesday after President Bush vetoed a bipartisan bill expanding a popular children's health insurance program, gearing up for a battle to both improve their chances of winning a veto override and score political points against Republicans who oppose the expansion.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid decried Mr. Bush's action as a "heartless veto."

"Never has it been clearer how detached President Bush is from the priorities of the American people," Reid, D-Nev., said in a statement. "By vetoing a bipartisan bill to renew the successful Children's Health Insurance Program, President Bush is denying health care to millions of low-income kids in America."

Democratic congressional leaders said they may put off the override attempt for as long as two weeks to maximize pressure on Republican House members whose votes will be critical.

"The President should not be so heartless when it comes to the children of America," Washington State Democrat Maria Cantwell said on the floor of the Senate. "I know my colleagues here are working shoulder to shoulder, Democrats and Republicans, trying to stop the President's veto."

"We remain committed to making SCHIP into law - with or without the president's support," said the leader of the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, referring to the full name of the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

Eighteen Republicans joined Democrats in the Senate, enough to override Mr. Bush's veto. But this was not the case in the House, where despite sizable Republican backing, supporters of the bill are about two dozen votes short of a successful override.

Illinois Rep. Rahm Emmanuel talked to CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod about the political advantage the Democratic party sees in this situation.

"So the President of the United States is asking 15 Republicans to stand with him on an argument about government-run health care… and deny American kids health care," Emmanuel said, "and yet, vote at the same time to give Iraq 190 billion dollars."

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Democrats were imploring 15 House Republicans to switch positions but had received no agreements so far.

House Minority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said he was "absolutely confident" that the House would be able to sustain Mr. Bush's veto.

Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott, R-Miss., said Congress should be able to reach a compromise with Mr. Bush once he vetoes the bill. "We should not allow it to be expanded to higher and higher income levels, and to adults. This is about poor children," he said. "But we can work it out."


The White House sought little attention for Mr. Bush's action, with the president casting his veto behind closed doors without any fanfare or news coverage. He defended it later Wednesday during a budget speech.

"Poor kids first," Mr. Bush said. "Secondly, I believe in private medicine, not the federal government running the health care system."

But he seemed eager to avert a full-scale showdown over the difficult issue, offering that he is "more than willing" to negotiate with lawmakers "if they need a little more money in the bill to help us meet the objective of getting help for poor children."

[bizzzz-2009]

The Democrats should rename their party the "always crying like a little b$tchocrats"

[ioweign]

I''''m a Texan myself...If you don''''t like it here liberal...get the fck out.

I here San Fransisco is looking for a few good liberals like you...you''''d fit in well there in the liberal ''''save the whales'''' alternative queer lifestyle.

Posted by tankersmash at 09:44 AM : Oct 04, 2007

It is "hear" not here (as in place). You are an officer - you betcha !

[signof4]

He''''s right simonsez40, Bush''''s program was NMLB (No Millionaire Left Behind) and it has been hugely successful.
Posted by jon_mccain at 09:45 AM : Oct 04, 2007

With clowns like you two running around pulling voting levers, our country is doomed to failure. That''s why tax revenue to the federal gov''t is beyond expectations, right? Because of Bush''s tax increases on the poor on the backs of ''working Americans''? Like you two leeches on society? Losers!

[nolalou]

tankersmash,

It''s obvious you don''t know what democracy and freedom mean, when you say liberals who don''t agree with your right-wing attitudes should ''get out of Texas'' if they don''t like it! Wrong! They have EVERY RIGHT TO STAY, TO VOTE , and to CRITICIZE, even if they happen to be in the minority! That is what freedom and democracy are all about! Ironic how you want to deny American citizens the same freedom so many of you claim we are fighting for in Iraq!

[s1ckd09]

This bill''s language is manipulated to mask
the true cost of their massive entitlement expansion, with a precipitous funding %u201Ccliff.%u201D
It dramatically increases Federal funding to enroll new children in SCHIP for the next 5 years, then %u2013 six months into 2012 %u2013 it abruptly cuts SCHIP funding by 80 percent %u2013 which is below current levels.

Specifically, the bill authorizes $14.25 billion during the first 6 months of 2012; then slashes the amount to $1.75 billion for the second 6 months of that year; and then assumes the lower level for the duration of the program. The likelihood of all this happening is, approximately, zero.

[simonsez40]

He probably has a faded GEORGE W STICKER right next to his DALE EARNHARDT and tattered American Flag sticker on his pickup truck riding around town.

[simonsez40]

Oh another comment from the NASCAR genius - you do live in Texas. Go figure! Believe it or not their is intelligent life in Texas that don''t exude that stupid redneck stereotype TANKERSMASH.

TANKERSMASH.........that says it all.

[simonsez40]

Good one Jon Mccain - can''t imagine what idiot would stand up for the laughing stock we call Commander in Chief.

[jon_mccain]

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND - another of BUSH''''''''s social programs in Texas that was a huge bust. Yeah he''''''''s a real political genius!
Posted by simonsez40 at 09:34 AM : Oct 04, 2007

Better point your high powered perception at Kennedy. He''''s the one who wrote NCLB....not Bush. But if you weren''''t a drinker of the dailykook kool aid, you''''d be more aware of reality.

Posted by SignOf4

He''s right simonsez40, Bush''s program was NMLB (No Millionaire Left Behind) and it has been hugely successful.

[tankersmash]

Yes I live in Texas and yes it''''s full of RIGHT WING and REDNECK IDIOTS

posted by simonsez40

I''m a Texan myself...If you don''t like it here liberal...get the fck out.

I here San Fransisco is looking for a few good liberals like you...you''d fit in well there in the liberal ''save the whales'' alternative queer lifestyle.

[simonsez40]

Bush got on the Bible-Thumping bandwagon - there out some RIGHT WING RELIGIOUS causes and the masses came running - like I said a bunch of sheep being set up for the slaughter!

No it seems like he''s abandoned his CHRISTIAN base.......quite funny.

[s1ckd09]

Why do Democrats hate our kids so much?
Bush wanted a 20% increase in funding for the SCHIP program, but the Democrats turned it down. The program has been a big success as it is, but the Democrats want to turn the focus away from helping the children and instead cover more adults with higher income levels. By increasing the funding of this program by doubling the tobacco tax, the ones getting hardest hit are the ones that can least afford it, the poor.

Again, I ask, why do Democrats hate our kids and the poor so much?

[simonsez40]

Yes I live in Texas and yes it''s full of RIGHT WING and REDNECK IDIOTS like much of the deep south. Better to see it on a daily basis and rise above it brother - think outside of the box instead of following your great leader over the cliff!

[simonsez40]

Well if you figure in each state has different LIVING EXPENSES (obviously it''s take more money to live in New York City than it would Wichita, KS) you''d have to factor in adjusted caps per state statistics or the program would of no benefit.

[tankersmash]

Oh yeah and I live in Texas - and yes a village is missing an idiot!

Posted by simonsez40

Here he his slamming southern conservatives as "rednecks"...yet he admits he lives in TX?????? You moron liberals never cease to amaze me with your idiocy.

[simonsez40]

Mo money? Hmmmm Bush talking amounts to lies - he''s proven that - Bush is busy spinning about the $83,000 figure cap - in truth (read the link up above) to get the real facts on this SCHIP bill. I encourage you to actually read and research the facts before you start defending the ignoramous.

Frankly I cringe everytime the man speaks in public - its embarrassing that this man is representing my country. He speaks like a 3rd grader.

[signof4]

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND - another of BUSH''''s social programs in Texas that was a huge bust. Yeah he''''s a real political genius!
Posted by simonsez40 at 09:34 AM : Oct 04, 2007

Better point your high powered perception at Kennedy. He''s the one who wrote NCLB....not Bush. But if you weren''t a drinker of the dailykook kool aid, you''d be more aware of reality.

[s1ckd09]

Bush is LYING about this number. 83,000 was a number proposed long ago by the STATE of New York, which was turned down. It doesn''''t even apply to this bill.

What else but lies to you expect from him. Expect him to lie thats what he''''s best at!

Posted by degress12 at 08:51 AM : Oct 04, 2007

No, he''s not lying about the 83,000. It is an example of the problem having states set their own income limits. Bush turned down the limit requested by NY last month (not LONG ago), but the issue is how the states can request those limits and how that affects the plan for everyone else.

[simonsez40]

Let''t talk about another Bill Bush wanted to sign into law - AMNESTY FOR ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS! That was another huge success - thank God we rallied to have that killed.........giving our country away that would be BUSH. Take that an make love to it you RIGHT WINGERS.

[signof4]

of course then they just try to blame it all on the republicans.
Posted by tankersmash at 09:31 AM : Oct 04, 2007

So true. Bush has already said he has NO PROBLEM talking about the program as it was meant to be....even adding mo money to it.

But that''s not good enough for these Bush haters. Anything to bash the guy and they''re all over it....even if it''s a lie. Pretty sad.