Bush to Veto Child Health Care Program

He is not satisfied with slaughtering our youth fighting a brutal war of conquest in Iraq, but now he wants to cut a program that provides health care for children that are in need. This man is either evil or totally stupid:

In a 265-159 vote, the House voted Tuesday to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP, by $35 billion over five years.

President Bush proposes a smaller increase in SCHIP — $5 billion over five years.

But President Bush has promised to veto the bill due to its cost, dependence on a tobacco-tax hike, and potential for replacing private insurance with government grants.

SCHIP is a state-federal program that provides coverage for 6.6 million children from families that live above the poverty level but have trouble affording private health insurance. The proposed expansion, backed by most governors and many health-advocacy groups, would add 4 million children to the rolls.

[...]"Excuse me," said Emanuel, "I never knew that Sen. Orrin Hatch, Sen. (Charles) Grassley, were members of the Socialist Party. I never knew that Gov. (Matt) Blunt, who asked for an extension in Missouri, was a member of the Socialist Party."

[...]The Senate appears poised to pass the SCHIP expansion by a large margin later this week, but a Senate bid to override a veto would be pointless if the House override effort falls short.