Senate approves children's health bill 64-30

[babylonsister]

Senate approves children's health bill
Thu Nov 1, 2007 7:15pm EDT


By Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate approved legislation on Thursday expanding a popular children's health-care program, setting the stage for a fresh showdown with President George W. Bush, who vowed to veto the bill that would also raise tobacco taxes.

The Senate voted 64-30 for the bill that aims to provide health insurance to about 10 million children in low-income families unable to afford private insurance but who earn too much for the federal Medicaid program for the poor.

The bill would raise taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products to help pay for the program. The bill goes to Bush who said he would veto it.

The White House said the Senate had passed another children's health bill with major flaws, despite the veto threat.

"Congress should address the serious flaws in this bill and produce legislation that puts poor children first and does not raise taxes," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said in a statement.

The Senate acted after the bill was approved by House of Representatives last week in a 265-142 vote that was short of the two-thirds majority needed to overturn a veto by Bush.


more...

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0148615320071101?sp=true

[msongs]

1. that makes it 2-3 votes short of veto proof? nt

[LakeSamish706]

4. You beat me to the question. .. Thanks for the answer.. I hope they keep this going.. n/t

[LakeSamish706]

2. So how does this stand up to a veto by "Dip Shit"? n/t

[EFerrari]

3. This could work. Crossing everything

for people of conscious in our Congress. And of course, for our Democrats.

[babylonsister]

6. More, but depending, I think * might still be able to veto, that POS:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, had hoped to delay the vote to give the bill's supporters more time to negotiate a deal that would assuage Republican concerns and provide a veto-proof majority in Congress.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky objected to a request by Reid for a one-week delay.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat, said negotiators were within reach of a deal on the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, bill.

"We have made a lot of progress and I believe that a compromise is very close," Baucus said. "I believe that given a little more time, Congress could pass a CHIP bill that could achieve the support of more than two-thirds of both houses of Congress."

Reid accused Republicans opposed to the legislation of standing in the way of reaching a veto-proof bipartisan deal.

"Whether it's the president making up phony excuse after phony excuse to oppose CHIP or Republican leaders repeatedly using procedural delays, it is obvious that there are some who will do anything to stand in the way of enacting this bill," Reid said in a statement.

Negotiations are expected to continue but the procedural maneuverings are likely to delay final resolution.

[EFerrari]

10. He may be able to. But he'll look even more isolated

if the numbers in the Senate hold up.

We'll see how fast his party is running away from him here, I think.

[Mountainman]

5. I don't agree with making smokers pay the price for this. If it is a good thing we all should pay

for it. I am willing to pay more taxes so that all the uninsured get coverage. Don't put it all on the backs of a few, that is not fair.

[fedupfisherman]

7. Agreed

Smoking is an unhealthy habit to be paying kid's health insurance with.

[LakeSamish706]

8. As a former smoker of 20 odd years I don't disagree with you...

The only however that I have is; Do you smoke responsibly, in other words (Do not subject non smokers to your second hand smoke)? Now this one really gets personal and relates to the above.. Do you live in a multi living environment? Cause that would make a big difference for me...

[Mountainman]

9. I don't smoke at all. I just see the unfairness of this.

[LakeSamish706]

11. Well unfairness is inflicting your addiction on someone else... The habit sucks...

It has known effects on those that don't even know that it could kill them... So, sorry but it should be not only taxed big time, but probably outlawed... Now I will admit that Booze has a bad effect on others as well, but it does not effect anyone so long as people don't drive while under and of course a host of other affects... But one thing is for sure, it does not have the effect of causing others around with serious illness..

[Mountainman]

12. Then spend money to help people quit don't tax the shit out of them!

The addiction is there no matter what the cost of the fix. Smokers are not evil doers.

[babylonsister]

14. Get over yourself. I smoke, would be happy to pay the 'penalty'

to support children who need help, and I do not annoy or inconvenience others. I don't even smoke in my home but go outdoors. I am not affecting anyone but myself so take your self-righteousness and stick it.
Having said that, what's the downside to passing this?

[TahitiNut]

15. Try making a distinction between a FINE and a TAX, OK?

If you're arguing that taxes on tobacco are punitive, then you're talking about a fine, not a tax. IMHO, it's very dangerous to regard taxation as punishment ... and such talk makes it no wonder that right-wingers whine that "the rich shouldn't be punished for being successful and having more income!" It's NOT a punishment. It's equity in sharing the cost of self-governance - where the equity based on the degree to which folks benefit and the diminishing subjective value of additional dollars to the increasingly affluent.

[TahitiNut]

13. Agreed. We MUST stop treating taxation as some kind of punishment.

While it's reasonable that excise taxes on certain products offset their public costs, imposing such taxes for punitive puposes is both immorally regressive and antithetical to good government.

[riverdeep]

16. I wrote this post as an FYI on smoking and SCHIP-

Take a look for some more info on why cigarettes were taxed, it wasn't something they were going after originally.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1977432

[SoCalDem]

17. 6 people were a no-show? n/t

[babylonsister]

18. For a change, it doesn't seem like it matters, but who missed this vote

would be interesting.

[TahitiNut]

19. Clinton, Dodd, McCain, Obama, Warner, and Wyden.

Clinton (D-NY)
Dodd (D-CT)
McCain (R-AZ)
Obama (D-IL)
Warner (R-VA)
Wyden (D-OR)

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00403

[babylonsister]

20. Hmmm. Wyden? I'm assuming the others were busy, and Warner

wasn't having any of it.

[virgdem]

21. Warner is in the hospital again...

and Wyden's wife just had twins, so he's on Family Leave for a while.

[babylonsister]

22. Wow! Thanks, I didn't know about either of their situations.And HA, twins!

I am one, so that's cool! :hippie: