Defying Bush, Senate Increases Child Care Funds for the Poor

[kysrsoze]

WASHINGTON, March 30 — Over strenuous objections from the White House, the Senate voted on Tuesday for a significant increase in money to provide child care to welfare recipients and other low-income families.

The vote, 78 to 20, expressed broad bipartisan support for a proposal to add $6 billion to child care programs over the next five years, on top of a $1 billion increase that was already included in a sweeping welfare bill. The federal government now earmarks $4.8 billion a year for such child care assistance.

The Bush administration objected to the increase in child care money, saying it was not needed. But President Bush and Republican leaders in Congress favor the overall bill, which would renew the 1996 welfare law and impose stricter work requirements on welfare recipients. The bill still faces political and procedural hurdles in the Senate, where Democrats want to add amendments on the minimum wage, overtime pay, unemployment benefits and other topics.

Despite the White House objections, 31 Republicans, including the Senate majority leader, Bill Frist of Tennessee, joined 46 Democrats and one independent in voting for the child care proposal, offered by Senators Olympia J. Snowe, Republican of Maine, and Christopher J. Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut, as part of a bill to update the 1996 law.


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/31/politics/31WELF.html?hp

Hey, a rare win for the proletariat. It's about time something good happened.

[slinkerwink]

1. that's good news....

[Maudlin]

2. Any bets

on how long it takes him to take credit for it?

[johnfunk]

3. The Democrats should talk up "Compassion vs. conservatism"

... and this is a good example. Bush is only compassionate if you're a conservative.

[wicket]

4. Compassionate

Bush is only compassionate if you're a conservative.

And rich!