Washington – Republicans reacted angrily Thursday to President Bush’s promise to veto a bill that would renew and expand the popular State Children’s Health Insurance Program, raising the likelihood of significant GOP defections when the package comes to a vote next week.
“I’m disappointed by the president’s comments,” said Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, who urged Bush, in an early-morning phone conversation Thursday, to support the emerging bipartisan compromise. “Drawing lines in the sand at this stage isn’t constructive. … I wish he would engage Congress in a bill that he could sign instead of threatening a veto.”
“I’m very, very disappointed,” said Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore. “I’m going to be voting for it.”
With the program about to expire Sept. 30, Bush said he would reject the $35 billion funding expansion being cobbled together by House and Senate negotiators. He said the bill would extend coverage to children in families with incomes of up to $83,000 a year, prompting many to drop private insurance.
“Members of Congress are putting health coverage for poor children at risk so they can score political points in Washington,” Bush said.
But members of both parties countered that it is Bush who is jeopardizing children’s health. They said most Americans, including many GOP governors and groups such as AARP, support expanding the program’s enrollment to about 10 million, up from 6.6 million.
