With No Bush Veto Threat, Six Republicans Switch From 'No' to 'Yes' on SCHIP
The House just passed a $33 billion reauthorization and expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, a.k.a. SCHIP, the legislation that Democrats tried in vain to expand last year only to meet with two vetoes from George Bush.
But now that Bush is gone, and there's no more president to protect, it seems that a few Republicans feel they're ready to support children's health care. Comparing today's House vote count to the roll-call vote in 2007, when Democrats came within about 13 votes of overriding Bush's veto. (There was another override vote that year, and a second in 2008, with similar near-miss outcomes.)
GOP Reps. Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL), Mike Rogers (AL), Mario Diaz-Balart (FL), and Thaddeus McCotter (MI) -- a member of Republican leadership who got picketed over his previous votes on SCHIP -- all voted yes today after voting against expanding the health care program under Bush.
What happened, guys? Was it Obama's post-partisan outreach that did it for you?
Bless his heart, the freshman 3rd District conservative Republican Congressman Eric Paulsen voted YES! Bring them in the big tent!!!
January 14, 2009 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
maybe they will use this vote as a reason *not* to vote for further healthcare expansions later. i can hear it now:
"many of us voted for the necessary expansion of healthcare for children, because children are very vulnerable and need to grow up smart and strong. i cannot, in good conscience, vote for more spending during a time when we're have a massive deficit and struggling economy."
yep, i can hear it now...
January 14, 2009 3:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I seem to remember Bush's reasoning on this--something to the effect that we wouldn't want people to escape paying those ridiculous rates for private insurance and possibly hurt the altruistic private insurance industry.
January 14, 2009 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
What happened, guys? Was it Obama's post-partisan outreach that did it for you?
Perhaps it's because the threat of punishment from the Bush/Cheney has been removed. Just a thought.
January 14, 2009 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pugs, say hello to my little Cuban friends!
January 14, 2009 4:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do you remember last year when a lot od Democrats were pissed at Debbie Wasserman Shultz for supporting those three GOPers in Miami-Dade County? Is this the beginning of their payback? What can we expect from them this cycle?
January 14, 2009 10:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jesus said to feed the poor, take care of the children, support the weak. Of course the Christian Republicans are against all that.
Our goal as humans ought to be to help everyone into a better place; instead, the Christian Republicans want to help the rich get richer. Figures, follow the money.
Perhaps the fact that some Republicans broke with the party line as set by Rove and Limbaugh should be seen as a good thing. I am cynical.
January 14, 2009 11:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
The "expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program" is all fine and dandy.
Where does the 33 billion US come from?
I, for one, am being taxed, feed and licensed to death; I have no more money to tithe the state.
January 14, 2009 11:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm. Let's see how those Southern types do on infrastructure-related bills. I hope someone's been leaving notes under their doors or anonymous calls in the night whispering about how low they'll be on the totem pole next hurricane season if they don't.
January 15, 2009 7:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Whether or not a GOP is President or not, they should never have voted against insurance for children. That is appalling and is another example of the GOP not caring for ordinary people, not even the most vulnerable among us.
January 15, 2009 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink