Perino: Bush Will Veto SCHIP ‘Quietly’ Without ‘Ceremony’

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/10/02/bush-veto-schip/

Perino: Bush Will Veto SCHIP ‘Quietly’ Without ‘Ceremony’

Both the Senate and the House have passed an expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) with strong bipartisan majorities. In today’s White House press briefing, a reporter said that Democratic leaders would likely be sending the legislation to the President to sign (or, in this case, veto) this afternoon.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino confirmed that President Bush plans to veto the legislation “tomorrow or so.” When asked whether there will be a ceremony, Perino replied, “I would not anticipate that there would be any ceremony.” She added, “The President will probably veto it quietly.”

Watch it/read transcript at link~

It’s not surprising that Bush is hoping no one notices his veto, which will deny health coverage to four million children. Over 70 percent of Americans support Congress’s proposed SCHIP increase. Bush has stated that he opposes funding the program with revenue from cigarette taxes, even though such taxes are tied to decreases in smoking. Furthermore, the public overwhelmingly supports raising tobacco taxes, by a margin of 67 percent to 28 percent.

Bush knows his veto is unpopular. After all, he’s certainly not opposed to lavish ceremonies and using children for political photo-ops:


Perhaps Bush couldn’t find any families who would be willing to stand with him on this veto?

[Warpy]

1. Families? He'd be surrounded by insurance CEOs

and at this point, those old boys don't want their pictures taken, most especially with the president they bought.

[EV_Ares]

2. So will the Dems counter with a veto ceremony & explain to the

American people how they plan to run this through again due to its importance to the children of this country. Also, aren't there some states suing Bush over this program and the lack of funding.

[Nite Owl]

4. Eight states is what I read

NY and NJ are two, don't remember the rest.

[Nite Owl]

3. The dems should have

a not so quiet news conference and an ad or two. The public wants this bill and they did pass it with a wide margin, it has to framed correctly, they have to ask why there is no money for our children but endless amounts for an endless war.

[deacon]

5. This NEEDS kicking and recommendations. The Dems need to through a fit and make headlines on this!

Wake up, pull a PR stunt. Don't let him get away with this! What an opportunity for Dems in congress to show they aren't CAVEmen.

[JDPriestly]

6. This is the bill that Congress should send again and again and again and again

until the election in 2008.

[BlackVelvet04]

7. It's the only thing he's ever done I agree with. n/t

[Patsy Stone]

8. I think some Dems ought to make a big ceremony out of it.

Hire ponies, bounce houses, invite the kids from DC to Lafayette Park. Call the media. Show America who he's hurting.

[Junkdrawer]

9. I guess children deserve a quite, dignified funeral...

:sarcasm:

[usregimechange]

10. I bet he will!

[Canuckistanian]

11. Was there a veto-poof majority or not?

The article doesn't make it clear.

[babylonsister]

13. I think they're a few votes shy of one. nt

[Richard Steele]

12. Whether this happens "quietly " or not isn't up to him. Make some noise! recommended.