UNITED STATES
Bush vetoes children's health bill again
Thursday, December 13, 2007
US President George W. Bush has once again vetoed a bill aimed at expanding a children's health care program to provide health insurance to 10 million children in low and moderate-income families.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
By Reuters
WASHINGTON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W.
Bush on Wednesday vetoed a bill expanding a popular children's
health care program for the second time, angering Democrats who
are locked in a fight with the administration over the budget
and spending.
Bush on Wednesday vetoed a bill expanding a popular children's
health care program for the second time, angering Democrats who
are locked in a fight with the administration over the budget
and spending.
Pushed by the Democratic-led Congress but also supported by
many Republicans, the bill was aimed at providing health
insurance to about 10 million children in low- and
moderate-income families. Taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco
products would have been increased to pay for the aid.
many Republicans, the bill was aimed at providing health
insurance to about 10 million children in low- and
moderate-income families. Taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco
products would have been increased to pay for the aid.
Bush vetoed a version of the bill in October but Congress
quickly passed another one that included some changes but not
enough to satisfy the White House.
quickly passed another one that included some changes but not
enough to satisfy the White House.
"Because the Congress has chosen to send me an essentially
identical bill that has the same problems as the flawed bill I
previously vetoed, I must veto this legislation too," Bush
wrote in a message to the House of Representatives.
identical bill that has the same problems as the flawed bill I
previously vetoed, I must veto this legislation too," Bush
wrote in a message to the House of Representatives.
The fight between Congress and the White House over the
health bill is one in a series of clashes over spending that
have arisen as Bush approaches the start of his final year in
office.
health bill is one in a series of clashes over spending that
have arisen as Bush approaches the start of his final year in
office.
Bush has said the funding level sought by the Democrats for
the health program would have expanded it beyond its original
intent of covering poor children and marked a step toward
government-run health care.
the health program would have expanded it beyond its original
intent of covering poor children and marked a step toward
government-run health care.
'SAD ACTION'
Democrats say the additional money is needed to help
families who cannot afford to buy private health insurance but
who earn too much to qualify for the Medicaid health care
program for the poor.
families who cannot afford to buy private health insurance but
who earn too much to qualify for the Medicaid health care
program for the poor.
"This is indeed a sad action for him to take, because so
many children in our country need access to quality health
care," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, told
reporters.
many children in our country need access to quality health
care," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, told
reporters.
In vetoing the legislation, Bush said "this bill does not
put poor children first and it moves our country's health care
system in the wrong direction."
put poor children first and it moves our country's health care
system in the wrong direction."
The bill would have provided $60 billion in funding for the
State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) over five
years, compared with the current $25 billion five-year funding
level.
State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) over five
years, compared with the current $25 billion five-year funding
level.
Proponents argued that the $5 billion increase that Bush
proposed in his budget was not enough to continue coverage for
the more than 6 million children now enrolled in the program.
proposed in his budget was not enough to continue coverage for
the more than 6 million children now enrolled in the program.
Democratic leaders said they plan a temporary funding bill
to ensure that those children keep their coverage through the
fiscal year that ends Sept. 30.
to ensure that those children keep their coverage through the
fiscal year that ends Sept. 30.
In the meantime, Pelosi said Democrats would keep pushing
for a broader bill that would cover at least 10 million
children.
for a broader bill that would cover at least 10 million
children.
"I continue to stand ready to work with the leaders of the
Congress, on a bipartisan basis, to reauthorize the SCHIP
program," Bush wrote in his message to the House.
Congress, on a bipartisan basis, to reauthorize the SCHIP
program," Bush wrote in his message to the House.
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