House, Senate Agree on Child Health Expansion

[deminks]

Source: Washington Post

Senate and House negotiators from both parties reached a final deal Friday on an expansion of a health insurance program for the children of the working poor, just a day after President Bush vowed to veto it.

House and Senate leaders scheduled votes for next week on the $35 billion expansion, a measure that has bipartisan support, even from some of the president's staunchest supporters. That broad backing could give Congress a long-shot chance to override a Bush veto for the first time.

"This legislation will get the Children's Health Insurance Program back on track and reclaim precious resources for low-income kids," said Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), one of the lead negotiators. "It breaks the legislative impasse and should have strong support from both Democrats and Republicans."

Said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) : "We are hopeful that the president will reconsider his veto threat and sign this bill into law on behalf of our nation's children."

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Friday that the veto threat still stands.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/21/AR2007092101889.html

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I can't wait, sarcastically only, for the Repuglicans to sandbag on this one, like they did to Sen. Webb. They hate America's troops, and they hate America's children.

[babylonsister]

1. Veto on the way, just like stem cell research, too. nt

[MannyGoldstein]

2. One Good Thing About Bush

He's always on the wrong side of any issue.

Always.

The consistency is breathtaking.

[PatSeg]

5. Always, always, always

I have never seen anything like it in my life. He can't even do the right thing accidentally. Makes you wonder if he asks himself, "what would the people want me to do?" and then does the opposite every time. His entire presidency is like some SNL spoof.

[Ian David]

3. Health Care for children sends the wrong message to America's enemies.Bush will veto it.

He wants the world to be scared of an army of children who survived to adulthood without the benefit of medical care.

[rodeodance]

4. says here the Senate would be veto proof but the HOUSE is not!! damm

The House is expected to vote on Tuesday, with a Senate vote by Thursday, congressional aides said.

The compromise resembles a Senate version that passed in August with 68 votes, enough to override a veto. But getting the needed 290 votes in the House will be difficult, lawmakers said.