President Bush again called Democrats "irresponsible" on Saturday for pushing an expansion he opposes to a children's health insurance program.

"Democrats in Congress have decided to pass a bill they know will be vetoed," Bush said of the measure that draws significant bipartisan support, repeating in his weekly radio address an accusation he made earlier in the week. "Members of Congress are risking health coverage for poor children purely to make a political point."

In the Democrat's response, also broadcast Saturday, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell turned the tables on the president, saying that if Bush doesn't sign the bill, 15 states will have no funding left for the program by the end of the month.

At issue is the Children's Health Insurance Program, a state-federal program that subsidizes health coverage for low-income people, mostly children, in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private coverage. It expires Sept. 30.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers announced a proposal Friday that would add $35 billion over five years to the program, adding 4 million people to the 6.6 million already participating. It would be financed by raising the federal cigarette tax by 61 cents to $1 per pack.

The idea is overwhelmingly supported by Congress' majority Democrats, who scheduled it for a vote Tuesday in the House. It has substantial Republican support as well.

But Bush has promised a veto, saying the measure is too costly, unacceptably raises taxes, extends government-covered insurance to children in families who can afford private coverage, and smacks of a move toward completely federalized health care. He has asked Congress to pass a simple extension of the current program while debate continues, saying it's children who will suffer if they do not.


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Wow, very interesting that Bush would rather see American children suffer, by vetoing expansion to children's health care yet wants to increase money for Iraq.. Yet funding the ppl of Iraqi is not too costly, sure its not, and not really our problem. Guess we know where his priorities are, and its not here. If saying that this is the first step to socialized medicine, then if its not a good idea, neither is funding the Iraqi ppl, let them rebuild for them self. Or is Bush idea of socialized democracy across the world better, forcing Americans to pay for it.

Free health care for kids of families making 42k a year?

Who foots the bill for that?

Kids in poverty, no problem, but 42k a year is not poverty.

Thank you Mr. President, stop the march towards universal health care.

This is the problem with DEMocrats. They will risk killing a beneficial program for poor childern for politcal gain. This is a disgrace. They always want to push the limits and any cost. For what? So they can say Bush vetoed a program for childern? Wrong, it was the DEMS that killed this program by being irresponsible and playing politcs with YOUR lives. This is what the dems do, and you DIMocrat voters fall for it everytime. It's a shame how you people play into their hands.

so there you go with your daily Democratic slam as usual. you must have missed the part about "substantial Republican support" or most likely just chose to ignore it in your never ending quest to distort the truth. you really need to switch up a little. your becoming way to predictable. please tell them it's time to oil the party robot.

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Proud Supporter Of: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Gun carrying, Pro-choice Blue Dog Democrat and damn proud of it!

"It has substantial Republican support as well."

That's a small part of the article, which really means nothing. What number is substantial? This is what I've noticed from a lot fo Liberal biased media lately. They include this sway to the Republcians to make it seem like the it's not bias reporting. The bottom line this is a Democrat legislation, they are playing games with the welfare of childern for political gain. It's a sad example of leadership, but everyday business with Pelosi and Reid.

It's sad you consider an honest review of the Democrats games as SLAMS.

I find it funny that you can not give the Dem's credit for one thing they have ever done. out of all the bad you perceive you can't find 1 thing right ? now i sit and wait for the REST of the story.

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Proud Supporter Of: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Gun carrying, Pro-choice Blue Dog Democrat and damn proud of it!

I have given them credit for the things they've done right.

They voted for the invasion of Iraq.
They voted for the patroit act, twice.
They voted to fund the war in Iraq.
They voted to condem the personal attack of Gen Patraues, after the President told them to.

I've given them credit for these things.

Nice try of the liberal spin, but it wont fly with me.

__________________
Neoconservatism is the political philosophy that emerged in rejection of liberalism and the New Left counter-culture of the 1960s.

As a term, neoconservative first was used derisively by democrat socialist Michael Harrington to identify a group of people (who called themselves liberal) as newly conservative ex-liberals. The term stuck, because it is accurate and because neoconservatives accepted that they are conservative.

151 republicans and 8 democrats voted against it.

I guess the NEOCONS don't understand something. When a family or single parents work for someone who doesn't have affordable insurance, then the kids should go without health care.
Oh I get it. If your a NEOCON. You get to blame the soldiers for volunteering for service then getting killed. You can blame the kids for being born to a poor family. And you can blame the opposing party for not doing things that they had the power for 6 years to do.
You NEOCON need to get a life. And stop blaming everyone else for your own faults. You supported and voted for the republicans. ANd you still support them even after all they have messed up.
I bet when you see some one broke down on the side of the road, you don't even stop to help. Or even ask on the CB if there is something you could do to help.