Bush vows to veto childrens insurance expansion

[Raven88]

By CHARLES BABINGTON, Associated Press Writer
Fri Sep 28, 5:02 PM ET

WASHINGTON - 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.

[Fat Guy]

Bush = Lame Duck!

[Raven88]

Yes, I agree. I'm not into politics, but this administration has really disturbed me.

[Logan13]

Bush = Lame Duck!

Who wants to say NO to a program like this, on the surface it seems like an easy program to agree on. But this is a welfare program, it is to be used not for poor families, but modest-income ones. This is but a first step towards socialized medicine, any sane capitalist would understand this. How much bigger do you want the gov't to get?

[Raven88]

Sorry, misinterpreted your post.

[Fat Guy]

Who wants to say NO to a program like this, on the surface it seems like an easy program to agree on. But this is a welfare program, it is to be used not for poor families, but modest-income ones. This is but a first step towards socialized medicine, any sane capitalist would understand this. How much bigger do you want the gov't to get?

Just Kidding, but Bush is fleecing the U.S. and it would nice to see some of that wealth flow back to the middle class instead of the small corporate power elite group it is going to now (Exxon, Halliburton, Pfizer, ect... and the lsit goes on)

[Logan13]

Just Kidding, but Bush is fleecing the U.S. and it would nice to see some of that wealth flow back to the middle class instead of the small corporate power elite group it is going to now (Exxon, Halliburton, Pfizer, ect... and the lsit goes on)

It has always been that way, regardless of the president.

[SMCengineer]

Who wants to say NO to a program like this, on the surface it seems like an easy program to agree on. But this is a welfare program, it is to be used not for poor families, but modest-income ones. This is but a first step towards socialized medicine, any sane capitalist would understand this. How much bigger do you want the gov't to get?

I agree, this would be a temporary solution at best and would lead to poor health care. A shift needs to be made to privatize health care.

[Logan13]

I agree, this would be a temporary solution at best and would lead to poor health care. A shift needs to be made to privatize health care.

Agreed. Think of energy production in the US. If it were run by the gov't, it would seriously be screwed up. Gov't oversight is necessary to prevent price gouging and monopolizaton, but that is all. I believe that our gov't should operate within the original parameters that it was founded on. Cut the waste out of gov't, cut the worthless social programs out of the budget, and reduce the national debt.........

[Amorphic]

Agreed. Think of energy production in the US. If it were run by the gov't, it would seriously be screwed up. Gov't oversight is necessary to prevent price gouging and monopolizaton, but that is all. I believe that our gov't should operate within the original parameters that it was founded on. Cut the waste out of gov't, cut the worthless social programs out of the budget, and reduce the national debt.........

social programs are worthless? hm. there is no way to reduce a debt that is in the trillions. americas troubles are only beginning. when the power of currency and debt is in the hands of a central bank there is no hope. someday the central bank will call in the debt and there will be another depression. Eliminiting the central banks that control the entire worlds wealth is the only way to get free. it will never happen. those in power will never relinquish it.

[Logan13]

social programs are worthless? hm. there is no way to reduce a debt that is in the trillions. americas troubles are only beginning. when the power of currency and debt is in the hands of a central bank there is no hope. someday the central bank will call in the debt and there will be another depression. Eliminiting the central banks that control the entire worlds wealth is the only way to get free. it will never happen. those in power will never relinquish it.

socialism at it's best..........

[Amorphic]

just make sure you have enough cash under your mattress when the debt is called in. it'll be lights out. or wait...maybe the north american union will solve everything, that amero sounds pretty cool.

[Logan13]

just make sure you have enough cash under your mattress when the debt is called in. it'll be lights out. or wait...maybe the north american union will solve everything, that amero sounds pretty cool.

When your house is foreclosed on, they take your house and auction it off. How do you suppose the "central bank" will force payment from the US Gov't, which is what they would have to do in order to get paid in your scenario?

[Amorphic]

a debt being called in from a central bank is not a new concept. the great depression happened because banks allowed everyone to have all the loans they wanted, then after the banks have everything, they just call in the debt and backrupt everyone to allow them to produce more currency and more money. the interest rises, and the dollar is worth less. the same situation applies to governments, the owners of the big banks are the ones that control the fate of america. when a country does nothing but spend money on a war machine and neglect all other parts of their failing economy, it will collapse.

with the size 'power' of americas so called healthy economy its kind of sad the canadian dollar is at the point of parity. maybe its because we dont construct economies that revolve around paying select corporations billions of dollars while neglecting everything else.

i'll stick with my universal healthcare, social programs and taxes thanks.

[Logan13]

a debt being called in from a central bank is not a new concept. the great depression happened because banks allowed everyone to have all the loans they wanted, then after the banks have everything, they just call in the debt and backrupt everyone to allow them to produce more currency and more money. the interest rises, and the dollar is worth less. the same situation applies to governments, the owners of the big banks are the ones that control the fate of america. when a country does nothing but spend money on a war machine and neglect all other parts of their failing economy, it will collapse.

with the size 'power' of americas so called healthy economy its kind of sad the canadian dollar is at the point of parity. maybe its because we dont construct economies that revolve around paying select corporations billions of dollars while neglecting everything else.

i'll stick with my universal healthcare, social programs and taxes thanks.

I think you are forgetting one simple fact: The US economy recovered from the Great Depression and has grown ever since, even with your obvious dis-taste for it.....
BTW, haters never win.

[Amorphic]

I'm not a hater, i just dislike the fact the entire US economy is built around a war machine. the war in iraq will never end because its the only thing holding the economy together

[Logan13]

I'm not a hater, i just dislike the fact the entire US economy is built around a war machine. the war in iraq will never end because its the only thing holding the economy together

how ever did the US economy exist before 2003........?

[Amorphic]

how ever did the US economy exist before 2003........?

it was entering a recession. the war has temporarily given the illusion that it is recovering

[Logan13]

i'll stick with my universal healthcare, social programs and taxes thanks.

so there is no misunderstanding..........
The U.S. Government spends 7% of GDP on healthcare (same as the Canadian government does).
Total healthcare spending:
14.6% of GDP in the US
10% of GDP in Canada

[Fat Guy]

I agree, this would be a temporary solution at best and would lead to poor health care. A shift needs to be made to privatize health care.

Now that is funny… A privatized health care system…. You see how well it worked in India. It would be a health care system designed with the Wallmart principle in effect.

[pimpdawgin]

how ever did the US economy exist before 2003........?

What, you think Iraq is America's first war?? How about Gulf War I, the continuing bombing of Iray throughout the 90's (after the war was technically over? Afghanistan (now and in the 80's). Kosovo. Grenada. Vietnam. Cambodia. Korea. That's just off the top of my head. And those are just places where there was public knowledge of war. It doesn't incluse all the places where the US was knocking off democratically elected leaders to replace them with their cronies, or the places where the US supplied weapons, training and funds to warlords/warcriminals, etc.

[RA]

Do you have a point?

What, you think Iraq is America's first war?? How about Gulf War I, the continuing bombing of Iray throughout the 90's (after the war was technically over? Afghanistan (now and in the 80's). Kosovo. Grenada. Vietnam. Cambodia. Korea. That's just off the top of my head. And those are just places where there was public knowledge of war. It doesn't incluse all the places where the US was knocking off democratically elected leaders to replace them with their cronies, or the places where the US supplied weapons, training and funds to warlords/warcriminals, etc.

[Raven88]

Do you have a point?

LOL. Talk about going off topic. What does his post even have to do with my original post??

[RA]

Thats what I was thinking.

LOL. Talk about going off topic. What does his post even have to do with my original post??

[Logan13]

What, you think Iraq is America's first war?? How about Gulf War I, the continuing bombing of Iray throughout the 90's (after the war was technically over? Afghanistan (now and in the 80's). Kosovo. Grenada. Vietnam. Cambodia. Korea. That's just off the top of my head. And those are just places where there was public knowledge of war. It doesn't incluse all the places where the US was knocking off democratically elected leaders to replace them with their cronies, or the places where the US supplied weapons, training and funds to warlords/warcriminals, etc.

If bloodshed was truely the path to riches, we would not have any 3rd world Muslim countries. Obviously, this is not the case.............

[AandF6969]

Hey, welfare for everyone!!! I just love paying for other people's shit.

[wantmoremass]

I consider myself a fiscal conservative (as fiscally conservative as a Canadian who thinks our taxes are too high but still supports state-funded healthcare so I deal with it), but socially liberal. For me, it's about finding a balance between my wallet and my conscience for others. As much as I hate abuse of welfare and paying for other people's laziness, I do believe that just because a child's parent is a deadbeat, the child shouldn't be punished for it, and health insurance is justified.

[Logan13]

I consider myself a fiscal conservative (as fiscally conservative as a Canadian who thinks our taxes are too high but still supports state-funded healthcare so I deal with it), but socially liberal. For me, it's about finding a balance between my wallet and my conscience for others. As much as I hate abuse of welfare and paying for other people's laziness, I do believe that just because a child's parent is a deadbeat, the child shouldn't be punished for it, and health insurance is justified.

Who could disagree? But this program is NOT for poor children. It is for modest to middle income ones............

[Raven88]

Who could disagree? But this program is NOT for poor children. It is for modest to middle income ones............

So in essence, we can agree that the veto was appropriate?

[Fat Guy]

Who could disagree? But this program is NOT for poor children. It is for modest to middle income ones............

This is for poorer children with the U.S. poverty line being 11K a year per individual. The average income for a family in the U.S. is around 25K a year and any family making that much or less needs as much help as they can get and I am willing to pay a little extra for child health care. How about you? Are you willing to help kids with health care?

[Logan13]

So in essence, we can agree that the veto was appropriate?

yes.

[Logan13]

This is for poorer children with the U.S. poverty line being 11K a year per individual. The average income for a family in the U.S. is around 25K a year and any family making that much or less needs as much help as they can get and I am willing to pay a little extra for child health care. How about you? Are you willing to help kids with health care?

I paid 33% in taxes last year, I more than do my part............
How about you?

[Amorphic]

I paid 33% in taxes last year, I more than do my part............
How about you?

yes Logan we all know you are better than us. just please, leave us some room to grovel at your feet, its crowded down here.

[Fat Guy]

I paid 33% in taxes last year, I more than do my part............
How about you?

Logan you big sweetie pie… and all those kids love you for it! There is a spot in heaven just for you

and yours is much bigger than mine

[Logan13]

yes Logan we all know you are better than us. just please, leave us some room to grovel at your feet, its crowded down here.

I was asked what I do to help kids with healthcare. That was simply the answer to his question.........

[Logan13]

Logan you big sweetie pie… and all those kids love you for it! There is a spot in heaven just for you

and yours is much bigger than mine

Everyone pities the weak, jealousy you have to earn......

[Logan13]

Logan you big sweetie pie… and all those kids love you for it! There is a spot in heaven just for you

and yours is much bigger than mine

Again, how about you? What does "Fat Guy" do to help kids with healthcare?