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The Power of Children

July 23, 2007 8:15 AM

The election is well over a year away but you can already picture the devastating political ads---haunting images of sick children followed by pictures of smiling senators who stood with Bush and voted against the senate finance version of SCHIP.  "MANY REPUBLICANS ARE VERY NERVOUS" republican Senator Gordon Smith told the L.A. TIMES.   

SCHIP is the federal/state partnership that provides health insurance to the children of low income families. It expires on SEPTEMBER 30th.  The president supports reauthorization but wants to expand the program by only $5 BILLION over 5 years.  Most experts say, given the rising health care costs, that is not even enough to continue coverage for all those already in the program.  The senate finance committee bill supported by fiscal conservatives like republicans Grassley and Hatch and paid for with a hefty cigarette tax authored by republican Gordon Smith would expand SCHIP by $35 BILLION over the next 5 years.  The president says he opposes the senate bill because it might lead to a government-run health care system in this country.

But as Senator Gordon Smith put it, "THIS IS PUBLIC POLICY BROADLY SUPPORTED BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE" and according to this morning's WASHINGTON POST also by the NATIONAL GOVERNOR's ASSOCIATION which sent a letter to congressional leaders calling on them to defy the threat of a veto and pass an expansion of coverage BEFORE THEY GO HOME FOR THEIR MONTH LONG AUGUST BREAK.

Could Bush face his first veto override?  Senator Hatch while saying he didn't want to make any predictions, told the L.A. TIMES, "I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THERE IS A REASONABLE CHANCE HE'LL BE OVERRIDDEN."

July 23, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (0)

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