SEARCH
Republicans Bash Bush’s Veto Threat |
 |
|
President Bush began his press conference yesterday by lashing out against a bipartisan bill in Congress to cover 4 million more uninsured children through the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
Bush not only said he’d veto the legislation, he accused supporters of the deal of trying to “score political points.”
That didn’t sit too well with the bill’s Republican supporters.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said a Bush veto of the expansion of “this highly successful program” would be a “terrible mistake.” (Watch Collins’ Senate floor speech here.)
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), normally a firm Bush ally, said:
I’m disappointed by the president’s comments….Drawing lines in the sand at this stage isn’t constructive….I wish he would engage Congress in a bill that he could sign instead of threatening a veto.
“I’m very, very disappointed,” said Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.). “I’m going to be voting for it.”
And Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) added:
We’re talking about kids who basically don’t have coverage….I think the president’s had some pretty bad advice on this.
On the House side, Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) said he is trying to round up enough Republican votes for a compromise to “persuade Bush to reconsider” his veto threat:
It’ll be a good vote for [Republican members of Congress]….And it shows that, if they feel strongly about something, they are willing to stand up to the president and tell him.
Some in the GOP already plan to do just that. When asked if he’d support efforts to override Bush’s veto, Sen. Hatch said, “You bet your sweet bippy I will.”
Let’s hope enough Republicans in Congress share this sentiment when it comes time to vote.
2 Comments
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Jimmy Hoffa was right when he stated George Bush is destroying the GOP. Bush has to learn “you can mess over some of the working families some of the time but you can’t mess over the working families all the time.”
SCHIP a poem by Dave Hurlburt 9-24-2007
Bush Bush what do you say! you will veto SCHIP today!
How many children will your veto kill each day.
How much money will you make emergency rooms pay!
Causing all of us higher health care cost because of delay!
Preventative care and regular checkup is the way to go.
Even your own party says they will override your veto.
Our children need health care now. Do not cause a delay.
You need to sign SCHIP and you need to do it today!
Your Political ideas not to raise taxes are short sighted
If you veto SCHIP your mistake will be righted.
Parents, children, and the congress are united.
See the Healthy children and you will be delighted!
David Hurlburt CWA local 9410