Congress sends kids health care to Bush. Good luck!
Leave the choice to Bush. Get
nothing for the children.
Setting up a veto showdown with President George W. Bush, the
U.S. Congress has approved legislation to expand a popular children’s
health care program and pay for it with higher taxes on tobacco
products.
The Senate solidly backed the bipartisan bill on a vote of 67-29. Bush has vowed to veto it and the Democratic-led Congress lacks the votes to override him. The U.S. House of Representatives earlier this week approved the bill on a 265-159 vote, falling well short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto.
Backers said the bill would help provide health coverage for some 10 million children. It would raise taxes on tobacco products to pay for the additional coverage. Taxes on a pack of cigarettes would rise by 61 cents to $1 per pack.
The legislation also would provide dental coverage for the first time and allow states to cover pregnant women.
The central political goal could be - should be - exposing Bush’s policies for their deceit and reactionary foundation.
Forcing a conservative president into vetoes - and using that against the Republican candidate to follow - was a core tactic in JFK’s election. Something that could have forced each critically backwards policy into prominence during every week since the 2006 election. Instead, the Dems leave it to Bush to define the “issues”.
The Senate solidly backed the bipartisan bill on a vote of 67-29. Bush has vowed to veto it and the Democratic-led Congress lacks the votes to override him. The U.S. House of Representatives earlier this week approved the bill on a 265-159 vote, falling well short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto.
Backers said the bill would help provide health coverage for some 10 million children. It would raise taxes on tobacco products to pay for the additional coverage. Taxes on a pack of cigarettes would rise by 61 cents to $1 per pack.
The legislation also would provide dental coverage for the first time and allow states to cover pregnant women.
The central political goal could be - should be - exposing Bush’s policies for their deceit and reactionary foundation.
Forcing a conservative president into vetoes - and using that against the Republican candidate to follow - was a core tactic in JFK’s election. Something that could have forced each critically backwards policy into prominence during every week since the 2006 election. Instead, the Dems leave it to Bush to define the “issues”.
Posted: Fri - September 28, 2007 at 06:45 AM