Children's Health Bill Approved By House

[Hissyspit]

Source: Washington Post

Children's Health Bill Approved By House
Insurance Expansion Near Senate Passage But Faces Veto Threat

By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 2, 2007; Page A01

The House yesterday approved legislation vastly expanding a federal health insurance program for the children of the working poor, shrugging off a fresh veto threat from President Bush and the fierce opposition of House Republicans.

- snip -

The legislation would launch the most significant growth in federal health care in a decade, and Democrats hope it will fortify their members as they head home soon for the summer recess amid voter perceptions that they have accomplished little since taking control of Congress. "This is the children's hour," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) declared last night. "We are able to meet our moral obligation to our children."

The 225 to 204 vote in the House -- largely along party lines -- came after hours of delaying tactics, strident rhetoric and trench warfare from Republicans who called the bill the first step toward "socialized medicine," financed by an unfair tobacco tax increase and cuts to managed-care companies in Medicare.

But in the end, the Democrats had weapons that were just too powerful -- a promise to insure 5 million more children who otherwise would have no access to health care, adding to the 6 million children already covered -- and the backing of Republican and Democratic governors, the American Medical Association, AARP, the March of Dimes, the Catholic Health Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and even cyclist Lance Armstrong. And the prospects are good in the Senate, where a key Republican, Orrin Hatch (Utah), said, "It's difficult for me to understand how anyone wouldn't want to do this."

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/01/AR2007080100266.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR

[BlackHawk706867]

1. I really hope that voters pay attention to this vote in the house, and

most specifically who voted and which way. I hope they remember this for the 08 election... The fact that you wouldn't vote to save millions of children's lives is a disgrace IMHO...

ww

[Hieronymus]

2. Along party lines .. how can those republicans face their constituents

[insidejoke]

5. I think they can vote along party lines...

...because it sounds like it'll pass the senate with more than enough votes to override a veto. It's a lot easier to attack someone for voting against the good bills that fail than it is to criticize them for voting against the good bills that pass.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. They voted against health care for helpless children!!

Those evil heartless bastards.

Sorry but this goes way beyond good bill/bad bill politics.

[trixie]

3. What's up with

childless couples using the program earmarked for children? Approved by Bush of course.

[Ian David]

4. What's the point in insuring kids when Repukes know Bush will push the button on January 19, 2009?nt

[wiley]

7. They approved CHAMP

Which is even more than a Children's Health Bill. It's also a first step Medicare Improvement Bill, that disallows private insurers from charging up to 30% more than the federal government for the same health care services. The main opposition to this bill has been from those who are heavily financed by Health Insurers contributions, and those who are heavily financed by Tobacco (It's a paid for bill that uses cigarette taxes to provide health care to children and seniors). This bill also does not make it legal to pay for health care services to undocumented immigrants - a shameless lie that Repukes tried to use to suck on anti-immigrant sentiment.

There is at least the whole month of September to contact your Senators and House members to pass the House version - CHAMP!

[pinto]

8. Kudos, House Dems.

:kick:

[LeftishBrit]

9. Good news

Universal health care would be even better, but this sounds like a positive step.

I can't believe all those Republicans voting against it.