Bush Threatens Veto of Child Health Bill
Sheryl Gay Stohlberg
New York Times
President Bush, bracing for a series of battles with Congress over spending, threatened on Thursday to veto a bill expanding a popular children’s health insurance program, calling it “a step toward federalization of health care.”
The program expires Sept. 30, and Congress is on the verge of renewing it by providing coverage to an additional 4 million children over the 6.6 million already enrolled — at an additional cost of $35 billion over five years. Mr. Bush says the bill would expand a program aimed at helping the poor beyond its original intent. [...]
Democrats, meanwhile, are trying to force Mr. Bush into the uncomfortable position of vetoing a bill covering 10 million children before any spending bills reach his desk. They are casting the president as the compassionate conservative who forgot his compassion.
“They thought they were going to get a fight on spending appropriations, and what they’re getting is 10 million children’s health care,” said Representative Rahm Emanuel, the Illinois Democrat who is chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. “Sept. 30 is the deadline on kids’ health care. We’re going to meet that deadline and he’s going to get a chance to side with 10 million kids or not.”
September 21, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Blog Reactions
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