GOP Legislators Split with President on Kids Health Veto

As promised, President Bush vetoed the bill that would expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program at a cost of $35 billion over the next 5 years. Mr. Bush justifies his objection on ideological grounds. “Because the Congress has chosen to send me a bill that moves our health care system in the wrong direction, I must veto it. Our goal should be to move children who have no health insurance to private coverage, not to move children who already have private health insurance to government coverage.” Spoken like a man who isn’t up for re-election because there are a ton of Republicans on Capitol Hill who voted for the bill and oppose his veto.

The Democrats could have passed the expansion of SCHIPs all on their own, but the margin in both houses of Congress show the extent to which the GOP backs the plan. In the House of Representatives, the bill won 265 to 159 while the chamber is divided 233 Democrats against 202 Republicans. The divide in the Senate is even more dramatic. The bill won 67 to 29 in a chamber divided among 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans and 2 Independents (socialist Bernie Sanders of Vermont and War Party Joe Lieberman of Connecticut – both voting with the Democrats on this bill). What is particularly important here is that the Senate has the votes to override Mr. Bush’s veto based on these numbers.

Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) is about as conservative as they come. He said, “Look, I disagree with the [White House] legislative staff on all of this. Frankly, I think the president has had pretty poor advice on this. I can answer every objection that they’ve made, and I’m very favorable to the president. I know he’s compassionate. I know he’s concerned about these kids, but he’s been sold a bill of goods.” Ah yes, the King is poorly advised gambit.

Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, the senior Republican on the Finance Committee, sponsored the bill. He had personally asked the president not to issue a veto. His take on the situation now is very simple. “We’ve got to do what we can to try to override.” This was echoed in the words Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) used, “I believe this is an irresponsible use of the veto pen. I hope the House can garner enough votes to override the President.”

One of the dozens of GOP House members who voted for the bill was Charles Boustany Jr. (R-LA). His statement after the veto was announced carries the seeds of what ultimately will pass. “This is an important program with bipartisan support, and I’m committed to a responsible extension . . . . Any long-term extension must include an effective plan focused on enrolling children who currently qualify but who for whatever reason are not signed-up, anything less is irresponsible.” The extension is a done deal, Mr. President, because that’s what the people want. Now, as in Iraq-Nam, the goal has to be a face-saving withdrawal.

© Copyright 2007 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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