Bush Extends Children's Health Program

After Two Vetoes, President Signs SCHIP; Dems Wanted Bill To Include Coverage For More Kids

(AP)  President George W. Bush on Saturday signed legislation that extends a popular children's health insurance program after twice vetoing attempts to expand it.

Politically, the move was a victory for Mr. Bush, although Democrats say it will come back to hurt Republicans at the polls.

The extension of the State Children's Health Insurance Program is expected to provide states with enough money to cover those enrolled through March 2009. Mr. Bush and some Republican lawmakers say the program will still serve those that it should: children from families who earn too much to qualify for traditional public health benefits but cannot afford private insurance.

"We're pleased that the program will be extended and that states can be certain of their funding," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said.

Yet many Democrats - with help from other Republicans - wanted to give the program a significant cash infusion and broaden coverage to an estimated 4 million children. They overwhelmingly supported use of a tobacco tax increase to pay for the expansion.

The matter came to dominate legislative debate and further sour relations between the Democratic leadership and Mr. Bush this year. Twice, Mr. Bush vetoed bills that would have expanded the government-provided health insurance for children.

The Democratic-pushed bills would have expanded the program by 35 billion. Mr. Bush said the legislation did not put the neediest children first. He opposed the tax increase and, more broadly, fought against what he saw as a movement toward more government health coverage.

The joint federal-state program currently provides benefits to roughly 6 million people, mostly children. Democratic lawmakers plan to try again to expand enrollment.

[fairandbal]

CBS, STOP SAVING BUSH!!!
This title is wrong. it''s "Bush approves SCHIP extension". This title makes him look like a saint.

Bush is really a champion for his buddies in Big Oil and keeping/extending the SCHIP program was only thanks to Democratic efforts, not the GOP.

[idlepugilist]

Whether you agree with Bush''s choice, one thing is certain. In some future book, George will take credit for Saving SCHIP. I disagree with those who plead for the tobacco companies. Taxing tobacco companies is no less appropriate for funding an expansion than anything else. They still thrive on getting customers addicted, and they own more vital companies like Kraft. Bush gets to play savior of taxes, and play savior of the program. Win-win, George, you''re my hero. But not to my co-worker, William, who has four children, lives in a major city and makes $50,000. Do you suppose this guy, who, as a navy vet, works his behind off, could possibly use a little help with SCHIP? I suppose not, he wasn''t born Texan.

[neobrian-2009]

Greedy Oil People
The GOP, Greedy Oil People are going to be in for a Big awakening this election year.The criminal arrogance and thievery of this administration is unparalleled in US history.
If someone would have written a book portraying the events of the past seven years.No one would have believed that one president`s actions could be so morally and ethically bankrupt.
Shrub will undoubtly land a place in history as " The Most Corrupt and Inept President" to ever hold office.
We can only hope he does not drag our country down any further.The sad fact is,it`s a daily reality to expect more lies,more deceit and more failures from this Internationally Reknown Idiot In Chief.

[mcvet]

I must disagree with you on that, I am a Dem since 1956 and I tell you ''''we'''' do not need socialistic healthcare, Thats what Hillaryous and her gang are trying to do. Bush was right not to sign the bill, but for the wrong reasons. We need to help those that can''''t help themselves, but there aint no such thing as a free lunch (TANSTAAFL) and we need to make them help on this. Take care of their needs but let the able bodied work (clean streets, pickup trash, do what they are able.) Right now we are paying able-bodied people a lot of money to do those very things and a very good retirement at the end of their careers. help the poor, quite a lot of them would do that work if that was the only way they could eat.
(this is just a start)


You seem to have bought the fascist line on this... I wonder why? Maybe you don''t understand the program? This is NOT socialized Medicine but I''m not sure that''s a bad thing. Regardless that''s a debate for another time. This is a program that helps working class people pay PRIVATE INSURANCE Companies for coverage on their kids. Before you start attacking people you should at least get your facts straight. Sieg Heil Bush!!

[hippychicky-2009]

Bush we see through your smoke and screen.........you are a silver spoon criminal that cares no more about the American people than Bin Laden! We see through your antics - and can''t wait to bid you and the Republicans farewell next year!

[jetranger7]

That Tax Cut BUSH Gave everybody back in 2002 or 2001, was nothing more than his way of attempting to "DECIEVE" YOU the American people, into thinking he was the man, Bush and his Cronies had all this planned out, and that Tax Cut was their way to persuade you into thinking he was doing whats right for America, he''s watching out for you I''m the man. Well we now know it was all a fraud, followed by Deception, Lies, Mis-trust and Spin Rhetoric, followed by more Coverups and lies . Its just Pathetic, we do not need somebody like this to ever again hold a public office ever ! This moron and his cronies should be immediately IMPEACHED and taken immediately to prision !!

[brianbwb-2009]

"Right now we are paying able-bodied people a lot of money to do those very things and a very good retirement at the end of their careers. help the poor, quite a lot of them would do that work if that was the only way they could eat." (this is just a start)Posted by ToolMangler

In short, you advocate a return to slavery. Would you be a slave? I ask because if you are an employee, eventually even your job will be given to cheap slaves, and you will be forced to accept slave wages, or none at all, or if you own your own company, who would then be able to afford your product? As your company goes belly up, you would be forced to join the slave class. Sound good?

[brianbwb-2009]

"Mr. Bush said the legislation did not put the neediest children first."

How does he define neediest, those who are $100 short of the cost of treatment, as opposed to those who are $200 short?

There is no such thing as neediest, one either needs help, or not.

Just another example of why he is a coward and an idiot, hiding behind games of semantics to further his agenda of corruption. He has no problem wasting money by making false excuses to kill people, but has a problem spending money to heal people.

[toolmangler-2009]

We the People of this nation NEED the democrat version of this thing. We NEED some help out here and that "Tax Cut" didn''''t give it to us.
Posted by skyk at 11:52 AM : Dec 30, 2007



I must disagree with you on that, I am a Dem since 1956 and I tell you ''we'' do not need socialistic healthcare, Thats what Hillaryous and her gang are trying to do. Bush was right not to sign the bill, but for the wrong reasons. We need to help those that can''t help themselves, but there aint no such thing as a free lunch (TANSTAAFL) and we need to make them help on this. Take care of their needs but let the able bodied work (clean streets, pickup trash, do what they are able.) Right now we are paying able-bodied people a lot of money to do those very things and a very good retirement at the end of their careers. help the poor, quite a lot of them would do that work if that was the only way they could eat.
(this is just a start)

[toolmangler-2009]

But that requires foresight... which the Neo-Cons clearly lack.
Posted by USAyesterday at 09:11 AM : Dec 30, 2007


Globalization cannot proceed until the USA economy is near third world levels, That has been Bushy_babys goal from the get-go. China will own the USA, and Walmart will own China

[cattlekate]

good post, ibstevetou.
As a Liberal, I am disappointed this tax increase was targeted at tobacco, without any discussion, at least in the MSM, as to how loss in tobacco sales taxes (either through mafia-prohibition-type-smuggling, or loss of smokers) would be made up.

Also, since the target demographic was children, not one supporter of the bill ever discussed why the funding shouldn''t come from what affects children''s health the most - fatty and high-fructose foods, and children''s entertainment.

For once, I agree with Bush&Co on the vetos and bill changes.

[missingamerica]

"They overwhelmingly supported use of a tobacco tax increase to pay for the expansion."

Speaking from a purely pragmatic perspective, that source of funding wouldn''t have worked anyway and merely attempting to use it would have had damaging effects on many individual states.

The fact of the matter is that as the Republicans have diverted more and more of America''s income into their own pockets via tax law manipulation, federal funding for state programs has declined in like or greater amounts.

The states have increasingly turned to "sin" taxes (like taxes on cigarettes and, to a lesser extent, drinking) and "sin" funding like legalized casino gambling.

The price of cigarettes is such now that another tax increase would have pushed many more Americans into the non-smoking (or cigarette smuggling - who knows) category, impacting the budgets of many states while not achieving the funding levels required for the expansion of this Children''s Health Program.

[secundus2]

The requirement for a compromise on this issue is to get 67 Senate votes in favor of some version of the bill or put in the caps that the Pres. wants. If Congress wanted action on the program, it would do one or the other. Later, it could go back under other circumstances and do more. This is the way politics works for citizens.

I''ve been waiting my whole working life for some form of universal health insurance, so I''m sick of politicians and their principles. I''m looking for results. BTW, I finally make 3 times the family poverty wage and my health insurance costs $12K (half paid by my employer), but I''d gladly see folks like myself excluded from national plans, if Congress would just provide graduated insurance benefits for those making around 2and1/2x the poverty wage or less.

[omega39-2009]

the increase in font size by using omega''''s tip is only temporary and only for the browser window of which you are in.

I just experimented with it myself and found this to be true (for my browser which is Mozilla''''s Firefox). I cannot confirm if this is the case for Microsoft''''s Internet Explorer however.

Posted by USAyesterday

Glad I could help USAyesterday. I haven''t explored all the limitations but it comes in useful when you visit one of those web pages where some stoned web designer has done everything in colored 7 point font.

[watcher269-2009]

We NEED some help out here and that "Tax Cut" didn''''t give it to us.

Posted by skyk a

--------------

The Tax cut wasn''t meant in anyway shape or form to help you or the American People.

Bushit and Cheney knew there would be War and that it would make the Rich, Very Rich especially with the Tax cut. Almost the Perfect Crime!

[omega39-2009]

CAPS WORK FINE FOR ME. BESIDES, THEY SEEM TO IRRITATE OTHER PEOPLE, WHICH MAKES IT MUCH MORE FUN.

Posted by crater7

You''re very welcome Crater7.

[skyk-2009]

I don''t always agree with Democrats but when we put one of them in as President they usually at least TRY to do what We the People want. We the People of this nation NEED the democrat version of this thing. We NEED some help out here and that "Tax Cut" didn''t give it to us.

[jon2012-2009]

Instead we get "Bush hates children" and "the Dems buy votes with socialism." What garbage! "Try to harm the opponent" is the only rule of US politics at the moment. So nothing gets done. Of course, the parties aim their appeals at voters who want it all one way or another.
Posted by secundus2 at 06:53 PM : Dec 29, 200

Bush doesn''t "hate" children, he just doesn''t care for them. This "education" president underfunded Headstart and No Child Left Behind programs, too. But he likes to show off the First Lady reading books to children.

[crater7]

USAyesterday;

THANKS FOR THE TIP.....

[usayesterday]

Posted by crater7 at 09:14 AM : Dec 30, 2007
..........

Just an FYI crater...

the increase in font size by using omega''s tip is only temporary and only for the browser window of which you are in.

I just experimented with it myself and found this to be true (for my browser which is Mozilla''s Firefox). I cannot confirm if this is the case for Microsoft''s Internet Explorer however.