House Democrats use California Fires to Heat up SCHIP
[Guest post by DRJ]
With many from the California delegation away because of the fires, especially from heavily Republican Southern California, Leader Nancy Pelosi and the House Democrats reintroduced the SCHIP legislation:
“Republicans in the House of Representatives on Thursday accused Democrats of using the fires burning in Southern California as a distraction so they can reintroduce a contentious children’s health care bill.
Democratic leaders in the House have scheduled a vote on the bill for Thursday afternoon. The bill had already passed, but supporters were unable to override President Bush’s veto of the reauthorization and $35 billion expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
Republicans, however, argued that some of their members have returned to their home districts in and near Southern California, where wildfires have been raging for more than a week. They accused Democrats of trying to sneak the vote in with many members absent.“
The legislation passed the House but not with the required 2/3 majority:
“The House passed a revised children’s health proposal Thursday, but not by the two-thirds margin that supporters will need if President Bush vetoes the measure as promised. The 265-142 vote was a victory for Bush and his allies, who urged House Republicans to reject Democrats’ claims that changes to the legislation had met their chief concerns. If the same vote occurs on a veto override attempt, Bush will prevail, as he did earlier this month when he vetoed a similar bill.
The tally was seven votes short of a two-thirds majority. Several House members were absent.”
Note how the AP report mentions “several House members were absent” … but we know the rest of the story.
— DRJ
Why do I suspect that the bulk of those absent were Republicans?
JD (e88f7b) — 10/25/2007 @ 2:48 pmWow,
Using the California fires and uninsured kids to try for a nonsensical smear of the Democrats.
Talk about desperation.
alphie (99bc18) — 10/25/2007 @ 3:34 pmUsing the California fires and
uninsured kidsRepublicans tending to their constituents to try for a nonsensicalsmear of theDemocrat under-the-table power grab.There. Fixed it for you, Staunch Brsyer.
Paul (f4626d) — 10/25/2007 @ 3:46 pmThe latest House vote was 265-142 in favor of SCHIP, Paul.
Hardly a “power grab.”
alphie (99bc18) — 10/25/2007 @ 3:57 pmThis is beyond the pale. As a resident of Southern California it is unconscionable that Pelosi would not postpone the vote (until the fires were in control) as 13 members of Congress representing California politely requested of her.
National Review online.
If her approval ratings weren’t already in the tank, surely they would plummet even more.
Dana (28fb7f) — 10/25/2007 @ 4:15 pmHardly a “power grab.”
Oh.
So it was just coincidence that it was brought up again now, huh?
Paul (f4626d) — 10/25/2007 @ 4:15 pmAnd #2, what a load of crap.
Dana (28fb7f) — 10/25/2007 @ 4:18 pmIt’s been on the calendar, Paul.
Let’s see what those fiscally “consevative” Republicans are doing in California instead of voting to give children health insurance:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Jerry Lewis Tuesday urged House leaders to prepare now to quickly pass emergency appropriations of up to $1 billion to help pay for fighting the massive fires in Southern California and ensure money is available for disaster relief.
http://www.house.gov/jerrylewis/october242007.html
Far right ideas about who should get government help are as complicated as Larry Craig’s fantasy life it would seem.
alphie (99bc18) — 10/25/2007 @ 4:27 pmalphtard – We fart in your general direction.
JD (e88f7b) — 10/25/2007 @ 4:34 pmIt’s been on the calendar, Paul.
I see. Pelosi put it on right after it failed last week. Ok.
Far right ideas about who should get government help are as complicated as Larry Craig’s fantasy life it would seem.
I see. Disaster relief for displaced residents is unecessary but paying for people’s heath care that own commercial properties and ten late model vehicles by fiscally raping the poor is.
Got it.
Paul (f4626d) — 10/25/2007 @ 4:54 pmYeah, cause God forbid he try and get money so California can put out the fires.
What a bastard he is.
The Republicans has a SCHIP-like bill for the dems to look at, but they ignored it. Do you even know what it was Alphie?
Scott Jacobs (a1de9d) — 10/25/2007 @ 5:54 pmalpee
……..
……..
never mind. You’re just an indecent person. Like those at Pandagon that are absolutely disappointed “rich white racist San Diegans” didn’t die in droves.
Please, go have vigorous congress with yourself.
Darleen (187edc) — 10/25/2007 @ 6:09 pmDon’t get sucked into this narrative; this is just politics at its basest level.
What possible legislative difference would the missing Reps have made? That is unless they were going to vote yes, in which case the Dems were cutting their own throat.
Its a clever move by the Republican leaders to frame it this way, but I’m not buying in.
Bob Loblaw (23d1c4) — 10/25/2007 @ 6:20 pmThe votes against SCHIP are not going to help republicans. It’s a stupid move.
blah (74fc41) — 10/25/2007 @ 6:31 pmNo Republican is voting against SCHIP, blah. They are voting against a shameless Dem socialist medicine creep… turning a program to help poor children into a middleclass entitlement teat from which to put ever more people dependent on their good graces.
Where are the adults in the Dem party? The most decidedly illiberal “liberal” party around.
feh.
Darleen (187edc) — 10/25/2007 @ 7:34 pmDarleen,
45 Republicans voted for SCHIP.
These kids need a hand from the government, as do the folks in Southern California this week.
You may see that as “socialistic” but I see it as American.
alphie (99bc18) — 10/25/2007 @ 7:45 pmThese kids deserve parents with the right priorities. Oh fuck, never mind. alphtard, blah, et al are not interested in debate. They will continue to bounce from one non-point to the next.
JD (e88f7b) — 10/25/2007 @ 8:47 pmWhy is it that the people who argue most against some government program tend to be people getting a government paycheck, JD?
And how are people who built their homes in a barbeque pit any more responsible than parents who can’t afford health insurance?
They need a little help, they get a little help…life goes on.
alphie (99bc18) — 10/25/2007 @ 8:56 pmalphie doesn’t understand the difference between a paycheck and a handout.
Liberal.
Patterico (bad89b) — 10/25/2007 @ 9:02 pmAre their any government employees who don’t get generous medical(and retirement) benefits?
alphie (99bc18) — 10/25/2007 @ 9:07 pmAre their any government employees who don’t get generous medical(and retirement) benefits?
Soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines.
Perfect Sense (b6ec8c) — 10/25/2007 @ 9:28 pmDon’t forget, alphie gets to define “generous” so he can say you’re wrong. Ignore him.
Stashiu3 (992297) — 10/25/2007 @ 9:37 pmWell,
The VA’s budget request for the current fiscal year is $86 billion.
http://www.va.gov/budget/summary/VolumeIVSummaryVolume.pdf
Certainly seems like a lot of money. Is the problem with the service?
alphie (99bc18) — 10/25/2007 @ 9:43 pm#22
Perfect Sense (b6ec8c) — 10/25/2007 @ 9:44 pmAlphie is so ignorant he probably believes that the pay, workload, retirement and health care given to a PHD in comparative pottery, who is burden with teaching two classes a week, is less than that of a soldier, sailor, airmen or marine.
I’ve given up calling for a permanent ban to this troll. I’ll just lurk until he’s gone, commenting is always hijacked and no longer worthwhile. Take care.
Stashiu3 (992297) — 10/25/2007 @ 9:55 pmPS,
I’d have to say government employees seem to be rather ignorant of how things work in the private sector.
Perhaps this is why they are the ones so opposed to SCHIP?
alphie (99bc18) — 10/25/2007 @ 9:56 pmStashiu3, i’m sorry to see you leave. You have been an insightful and productive commentator, and i’ve enjoyed our exchanges, even when you confused me with alphie. 🙂
Be well.
aphrael (db0b5a) — 10/25/2007 @ 10:05 pmAlphie, you’ve given no indications on this or other blogs that you have any idea how either the public or the private sector work. Have you held anything other than part-time or summer jobs?
daleyrocks (906622) — 10/25/2007 @ 10:22 pmAs typical, you provide no basis for your assertion that public employees “are the ones so opposed to SCHIP.” Like a good liberal, you just made it up. In fact the public employees who populate the congress just passed the SCHIP bill, the very subject of this tread.
Perfect Sense (b6ec8c) — 10/25/2007 @ 10:50 pmI believe most of the anti-SCHIP posters here have in the past alluded to the fact that they are government employees, PS.
alphie (99bc18) — 10/25/2007 @ 11:06 pmAnswer the question Alphie.
daleyrocks (906622) — 10/25/2007 @ 11:11 pmI believe most of the anti-SCHIP posters here have in the past alluded to the fact that they are government employees, PS.
You have proof of this?
Paul (f4626d) — 10/26/2007 @ 4:14 amNot I – private sector.
Paul, you know that alphtard is just making shit up.
JD (e88f7b) — 10/26/2007 @ 5:16 amI’m not getting a Government paycheck, Brayer, and I’m utterly against expanding SCHIP.
Explain to be why 400% of poverty, and including 25 year olds, is a child-health issue.
No one making 400% of the poverty level has NOT had a chance to get insurance. They just turned it down.
I would prefer the tax-credit to allow people to purchase private insurance instead of expanding SCHIP and have people LEAVE private plans to go on the government teet.
Scott Jacobs (425810) — 10/26/2007 @ 5:25 amIf Madame Botox does hold another vote with California Republicans busy back home, I can see it blowing up in her face–a lot of the Republicans who voted “yes” on the override last time will resent the maneuver, and know that they might need their fellow Republicans to cover for them on a vote sometime: enough will probably shift their votes to result in another failed override. If the vote fails again, all Pelosi will have for her trouble is the image of her trying to exploit a major crisis in her home state for political ends. Even in Northern Moonbattia, that won’t go over well.
M. Scott Eiland (831a6a) — 10/26/2007 @ 8:40 am