The politics of kids' health

Democrats this week are likely to fail to override President Bush's S-CHIP veto, but they hope to gain in other ways.

from the October 15, 2007 edition

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"We have several Republicans already on this bill, and we haven't even begun to go out and look for sponsors," says Rep. Betty McCollum (D) of Minnesota, who is cosponsoring the bill with Rep. Christopher Shays (R) of Connecticut. "People are also ... aware that one of the quickest ways to restore our credibility and to relate to people around the world is by helping their children celebrate their first, second, and third birthdays," Representative McCollum says.

Ten years ago, the original S-CHIP bill passed with Republicans in control of Congress and a Democrat in the White House. The law aimed to subsidize health insurance for families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to afford private insurance. Over the years, some states expanded eligibility to include adults and families with higher incomes.

Although the Bush administration approved these waivers, the president now says that a renewed S-CHIP should move adults out of a program meant for children and "put poorer children first."

Republicans leaders, who are feeling the heat from embattled colleagues, wanted a quick vote on the veto override, which they say will not succeed. Then, both sides should sit down and work out a compromise bill, they say. Last week, Bush said he was open to spending more than $5 billion on the program.

"I can't imagine Democrats would let S-CHIP expire to make a political point," says Don Stewart, a spokesman for Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell. "When the president is willing to sign something that will extend and increase it, I don't see how they let it expire."

But Democrats close to the 2008 campaign say the S-CHIP votes could be decisive in the next election. Nearly two-thirds of voters say that they support the Democrats' position on S-CHIP.

"You can see in editorials around the country and in local news stories how disconnected Republicans are from their constituents," says Jennifer Crider, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Democrats are not sounding conciliatory. During a floor debate to postpone consideration of the veto until Oct. 18, Rep. Fortney "Pete" Stark (D) of California urged Republicans to think of it as the "time out" he uses with his 6-year-old twins.

"You go to your room and think about the mistake you made, and when you're ready to apologize and come back and set things straight, you can come out of your room. That is what the two-week period is all about," said the lawmaker, who chairs the health panel of the House Ways and Means Committee.

A two-thirds vote in both houses is required to overturn a presidential veto. The S-CHIP bill passed the Senate on Sept. 27 by a veto-proof vote of 67 to 29 and the House on Sept. 25 by a vote of 265 to 159, with 45 Republicans voting with Democrats.

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