As well he should have. This program 'expanded' services to those up to age 25 whose families make $82,000 per yr. Sorry but that's not a child and that's not poor and Im not payin' for them..

The Democratic congress couldn't hope to get a big universal entitlement package passed, so they are trying to socialize medicine piece by piece. Just like they want to instill a 'global warming tax' now, then later get us all hopped up on the global warming idea and just naturally ask for more. Well, it's always more,more,more with this Congress, until we will hand over half or more of our paychecks in a true socialist fashion.

No to SCHIP. Get your priorities straight people and quit the luxuries and pay for your own d#*m doctor's visits.

This is strange. No Child Left Behind - he backs that but doesn't support the kids health insurance bill. Also, this will only be his fourth veto…but why would he veto that much when the GOP was in control of congress.
Mark
FuzzySnake.com

He vetoed the bill because he's never been hungry or without medical care a day in his life. He has no clue what living near the poverty level means…just words to him. Is the bill perfect? Of course not. But to say that we "can't afford" this when he is spending $3000 a second on his war just doesn't wash. And to plead being "fiscally responsible" is another joke, right? When has this man ever been fiscally responsible? With his baseball team? His oil wells? Government? Tell me another tall tale, Mr. President. We're not buying any of it, and we will override this veto.

There is something seriously wrong with this man. Why does he defend his programs to kill kids (Iraq) and then spends so much time defending his veto for a program that helps kids?
His agenda is corporate, selfish and insensitive. He's so Republican that the Republicans don't like him.

WHAT A MORON! He doesn't deserve to be president of the United States of America!

Spending responsibly? How is half a trillion dollars in Iraq spending responsibly? Money for War, Money for Oil, let the poor sick kids die.

No child left behind?
Or was that meant to be No Rich Child Left Behind?

Poor children first? Hello dimwit, poor children are covered under Medicaid.

The middle class family of four that earns $75,000 per year, has a 3-4 bedroom house, 2 baths, one car garage and three kids. Let's see…what is the premium per year to cover husband, wife and 3 kids? Pay the mortgage, car payment, car insurance, electric, phone, cable/DSL (maybe they should cut that out damn spoiled people), water (drill a well , it's only $4k-5k), food, day care, clothing, school activities, maybe a student loan for parents, a credit card or 2 (well they shouldn't have credit cards, even for car rentals, etc. that require them, damn irresponsible people), birthday and Christmas gifts for the kids, tithe to the church…what else…

The point is, add up these folks annual expenses and see what is left for a $10,000+ insurance premium to cover 3-4 children.

When is this country going to start caring about its own as much as it cares about everyone elses business?

If this country were in fact built on "christian" principles, we wouldn't be having this discussion. The government is here to serve the people, especially where they cannot, even after working hard and paying their taxes, year after year.

I would rather my tax dollars go to children's health care here than to a far away country that doesn't even want us there, and feigns respect because they have to.
Wake up America. We are allowing shameful, reprehensible policies to go forward at the expense of our own children.

Democrats, fix this and the war issue….I smell a loss in 2009 and my family is outa here if you blow that election.

Searching for land on the coast in Nicaragua…or some other coastal country.

Oops, I meant 2008…
and pleaseee don't let it be Hillary, the conquer and divide will get us creamed (as much as I like her).
Joe Biden can beat any Repub, hands down.

Yes, the Dems want adults and everyone under this. They are lying to the people again. Wake up, do the homework.

The king moron has spoken! Disregard the majority of americans again needing the Government to step in and do the right thing for all Americans. No the king has to prove that Government doesn't work For the People , By the People, I'm the "decider"! Impeachment should be right around the corner, but
No the maddness continues! Myanmar, America are under seige!

SCHIP for children or another war plane … you choose!

Leave it to the blueblood childking to assume that a family above the poverty level can afford to buy healthcare. He doesn't realize that many at that level are working 60, 70 hour weeks by both parents or working 2 jobs to survive.
This is a perfect example of why the republican party is becoming nothing more than a group of insignificant whiners. No wonder the republican senators are dropping out of the 2008 race.

A vote for Hillary is a VOTE FOR BILL and don't forget it folks. Do you REALLY want BILL back in the White House??
Wake up America.
I'll take The Bush's any day.
Keep BILL Clinton OUT!
unless you people WANT our country to again be the laughing stock of planet Earth!

I am so grateful that we have a president willing to stand up against yet another government intrusion.

I am still a believer in "the government is not the solution to the problem, the government is the problem."

How about a deeper tax-cut that people can use to fund their children's healthcare if they so choose?

ThistyJon
freedomthirst.com

a shout out to Frank in Virginia Beach. You sound like someone wealthy enough to never be concerned with health costs or insurance. Good for you!

Just like the President, born with a silver foot in his mouth and never a care where his next colonoscopy was coming from.

Let's get the kids covered now. Then you can worry about who else might need help.

Private insurance means paying for a 13 month wheelchair rental for a child who will need a wheelchair for the rest of his life. His parents are small business owners who thought they were covered.

I don't have the pointer but did you read the obscene profits insurance companies make?

Bush lies, children die.

most everything republicans exhort favors big business,even when it comes to Americas health and well being.anyone who has even passingly been paying attention realizes this fact.very sad.

I say if your an average American family why would you want a Republican in office? They are only for people with money. They don't care about if you are just making ends meet. Wake up, please.

Let us not be to hard on Boy George. If you recall when George senior was running for President the late Governor of Texas, Ann Richards, made the quote at the Democratic convention that George Senior was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and didn't have a clue to what was going on.

What is the old saying, "Like father, like son."

Well said Reggie, the madness does indeed continue. He will now ask Congress for more money to support the Iraq war right after this disgrace to children at poverty level. How in God's name can the Congress continue to give him what he needs for "His War!?"

To Frank in Virginia Beach. St

op listen to your radio talk show host. Read the bill for yourself. The health care program has being in existence for a long time.

They are called Peach Care in GA, Florida Kid Care in FL and a host of other names. They are run by the state gov and not Federal Government. The Fed only contribute to the fund. So If you can read for yourself, you will see it does not expand the gov like Rush or Hennedy is telling you.

The increase is not funded by tax payers either as they make you believe.

I thought they had intelligent people in the GOP. The veto was for the cigarette manufacturers.

. . . I'm in favor of saving money, but not at the cost of children's health. Put off building some office or something and spend money on people.

NO, not Iraqi people, George.

The SCHIP Legislation is a bill drafted by a bipartisan Congress.

It is primarily authored by Republicans and contains everything the President claimed to have wanted in the bill. Whose playing games now.

The bill has overwhelming support of the public.

So lets see we have a bill that was rewritten by members of the Republican Party, a bill that contains basically everything the President asked for, a bill supportted by a majority of the citizens of the United States and by a majority of Congress. This could be the first piece of bipartisan legislation passed by Congress in years, and Bush VETOs it.

Its time to over turn he VETO and show him that he had better start working with Congress and listening to the American people.

I receive “socialized” medicine, compliments of the DOD. It is some of the best care money can buy. I wish every American could have the same.

"W" and Dick get it every time they are seen at Walter Reed, so if it is good for the troops and good for the President why is it not good for America?

"I believe in private medicine, not the federal government running the health care system. I do want Republicans and Democrats to come together to support a bill that focuses on the poorer children," the president said, adding "the government's policy should be to help people find private insurance."

Well Private Medicine means dollars to Private Corporations. And his statement on wanting to help poor children certainly doesn't speak to
"Equality fo All Americans."

And middle class wage earners who are scarcely above the poverty wage bracket are POOR PEOPLE Mr. President as are they're children.

And why would Americans need the Government's help in finding Private Insurance Coverage. These companies are advertised through the media daily. They are easy to find just hard to pay for.

I dont' understand the President's logic on this issue. In Canada we have Medicare and those who wish to also buy into Private Insurance have that choice. But with our Medicare all Children and Middle Class wage earners are automatically covered under Medicare while still having the choice to buy into more Private Coverage. SO I don't get this American Health Program at all.

Even wage earners above the Middle Class bracket in Canada would find it difficult to pay for even some of the basic health care needs which is why we have Medicare.

If the media would report this story you would all discover that no "poor children" will lose their assistance, but this bill will raise the ceiling to $83,000 (poor?) and increase the age to 25 (children?).

I will give my next check to the "poor childen, but I wil be damned if that includes people that make $83,000 and 25 year old "kids".

You Go George, these morons (liberals) dont even know what is going on or have any intellect on this subject, but continue to say the same thing over and over BUSH SUCKS, EVERYTHING IS BUSHS FAULT,,,you people are like a broken record. Please do some research on this bill then you might find ol Nancy and Harry are exploiting the middle class and I for one dont feel I need to pay for some kid in the middle class to have healthcare when their parents could afford it..Liberals are so predictable and such MENTAL MIDGETS,,,

The next time George Bush asks for 200 billion dollars for Iraq, say hell no, it is too expensive. This is sickening. How can the president sleep at night after vetoing this bill. It doesn't matter to him, he has healthcare.

Yes, the Dems want adults and everyone under this. They are lying to the people again. Wake up, do the homework.

Posted By Frank Virginia Beach :

So he's punishing 8 millions kids for a bill that does not exist yet? The bill does not refer to adults… what you are saying is that this is a "pre-emptive" veto

Proof positive that this man has no soul in him.

All those so intent on making fun of Bush ignore the specifics of the plan. Please address, or continue to show your ignorance.

1) Covers parents who make up to $83,000
2) Makes smokers who a large number are poor pay for the increase
3) He offered to cover up 25 billion but the dems would not compromise.

I just don't get it.

I do get that Pelosi and crew are running around saying Bush hates poor people. Since when did making $83,000 make you poor?

Listen, if you believe ALL children should get free healthcare, that is one thing, but to claim that Bush hates poor when this bill covers, arguably upper middle class people, COME ON.

And finally, cigarettes? Why not air travel, then more people would be responsible for the cost. And wealthier people travel by air.

Let's see if a dem has the guts to address or, most likely, will just continue to call Bush names.

I hope the VETO gets over-ridden. That way I can drop my son from my private insurance and have the government pay for him!
Then I can go out and buy a new flat screen TV!

I make less than 1/4 of the proposed $83,000.00 income level in this plan and I still would not expect my neighbors to pay for health insurance for my kids. We have become a society of takers and users. Truly poor sick people should be offered a helping hand but no one deserves to live off the backs of other hard working citizens.

As usual "Jimmy" you are clueless and classless.

Big people talking here, so you can go into your playpen.

Bush is not cutting funding for "poor people" as the Democrats are leading us (and LYING) to believe, THEY are expanding this to include people that earn $83,000 (poor?) and people aged 25 (children?).

I will give my next EARNED paycheck to the "poor children", but I will be damned if I have to pay for the poor ($83,000) and the children (25 years old).

Phase one of the lying socialists plan is upon us.

And as pat of the plan is to tax the hell out of smokers to "pay" for it.

If any of you sheep think for one minute the taxes that are going to be levied on smokers is going to DIRECTLY pay for this, I have a bridge…

I don't smoke, but why not tax people that buy Twinkies, Dorito's and who purchase BEEF as all lead to obesity.

If enacted and people do actually "do the right thing" and quit, where is the money going to come from then?

Didn't think of that… just like Shrillary didn't think of where the money for the "Baby bonds" was going to come from.

I'll save you the trouble, Bush sucks, now write something relevent about this.

Read the provisions of the bill. $83,000 income cap was a proposal made by the State of New York for their state, it was killed. That was at 400% poverty level. Not the 300% cap contained in the bill. Also understand that this is not a Democratic bill, it is a bi-partisan bill, and was rewritten into its current and vetoed form by Republicans. Also I recommended going to Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) site and listen to his comments on the SChip legislation, not only is he in favor of it, but he belives that the President made up his mind before the final language of the bill was even finished and he also beleives that the decision to veto the bill was made without even reading the final passed bill.

I will tell you this, if Senator Roberts thinks that it was a error to veto this legislation, I recommend that you rethink your logic. Pat Roberts is not what I would consider a liberal tax and spend democrate, but I would consider him a conservative republican. And he says Bush was Wrong to Veto this legislation.

Some people on these forums seem to lose perspective.

We're talking about children here. Ten million CHILDREN. What is so bad about the richest and most powerful nation on the planet deciding to insure ten million children?

I know there are questions about income-levels, but anyone with a brain knows that lack of insurance can hurt any family, from the lower class to the middle and upper classes.

Insuring the children through the government means that ten million families won't have to worry about it anymore. What can be so wrong about easing the burden on the American people?

I must say if you think that making a combined parental household income of around 85,000 is a lot of money, you are sadly mistaken. This barely covers a lower middle class income where I come from, and why shouldn't the middle class get a break after all they do all the work.
With the price of commuting, high housing and rent plus the price of medical care, which is still born in part or all by the worker and the cost of child care plus all the other expenses of raising a family even many in the middle class are a pay check away from losing it all if one parent losses a job or gets laid off.
Once again the Republicans show there cold cold hearts. The rich get richer - to satisfy there sick sense of elitism - they love to look down there nose and go tut.. tut how unfortunate they are.

BARAK THE VOTE !!!

"We're talking about children here. Ten million CHILDREN. What is so bad about the richest and most powerful nation on the planet deciding to insure ten million children? "

The Government ALREADY insures millions of CHILDREN (medicaid). These proposed kids come from middle class working families. Make insurance easier/cheaper for businesses so employees can have insurance is the solution… NOT another Government program!

Or do we now live in the United Socialist States of America?

If your household income is $83,000, and you can't afford health insurance, then you don't know how to budget!
If you CHOOSE to live in a huge house in a well-to-do neighborhood that is a long commute from your job and drive a fancy SUV, that does not entitle you to free health care.

There are many, MANY places around the country where $84k is a LOT of money and can buy you not only health care but a nice house as well.
If your location is pricing you out of health care, move to a cheaper location or buy a cheaper house.

Once again, let's try personal fiscal responsibility. Let's make a choice. 1/2 million dollar house,$ 30,000.00 SUV or insurance for your kids? Once the smoker's tax dries up what's next? the drinker's tax, the eater's tax how about a tax on the air you breathe? Maybe we should tax all people that purchase chinese imports then we could fund health care for the world.

It seems to me a lot of these "facts" being thrown around come straight from right wing talk radio. Some actual facts you might like to consider:

*New Congressional Budget Office estimates show that by 2012, a total of 3.8 million children who otherwise would be uninsured would have health care coverage under the bipartisan agreement reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) developed by House and Senate negotiators.

*CBO consequently estimates that a total of about 3.2 million of these 3.8 million children — or 84 percent of them — are children who have incomes below the current eligibility limits that states have set.

Finally, the $80,000 income level being tossed about here is incorrect:

Senator Grassley told the Des Moines Register that the President was incorrect to claim that the emerging agreement would include coverage up to that income level. (CongressDaily quotes Senator Grassley as stating that the President’s “understanding of our bill is wrong, and I would urge the president to reconsider his veto message based upon the bill we might pass, not something that some staffer has told him wrongly about our bill.”)

Just though y'all might like to know that.

President Bush is continuing to display his pathological moronic behavior. This man has to be the most ignorant person to ever get elected president. How could we have made such a COSTLY mistake.
I would hope that Democrats vilify and demonize this pitiful moron for the rest of his life. For the misery he has caused here in the USA and in Iraq, he doesn't merit any respect. NONE..MAY GOD SAVE US AND THE WORLD FROM THIS IDIOT.

Christian-

Your argument (or statement) is simply what harm is there in insuring 10 million children. I agree. My next question to you is this, "why should only smokers pay for it?"

Full disclosure, I smoke a pack a week, won't really hurt me (the 61 cent tax, of course the cigs will), but fair is fair. Only those who smoke should have the right to comment on the bill.

Finally, $83,000 and age 25 is absurd. Period. That is not poor, low income, or middle class. I hate to make generalizations but, I am sure those parents are not making smart decisions if they can't pay for Health insurance. Why should I be penalized for others bad decisions?

It does not matter what a lot of think about 'big, bad, socialized medicine' it is coming. We can not afford the system that we have now.

And to those of you who think socialized medicine is bad, what do you think medicare is? You pay for that now and that tax will have to be increased soon too. And before you start howling, remember your elderly parents and grandparents receive it now. If it were eliminated (some of you seem to think medicare is bad too) you might end up having to take care of their healthcare out of your own pocket. You think your taxes are high now, wait till you have to do that.

By the way, a lot of you seem to think that it is only poor people who smoke. I see a lot of twenty and thirty somethings smoking all the time. Go to any bar here on a Friday or Saturday night and the smoke will kill you. Also, this will not cover parents it is only children. $80,000 a year may sound like a lot if you live in the south but in places California, Mass., Alaska, to name a few, that is not much for a family of 4.

Posted By Amy, FL: "I would rather my tax dollars go to children's health care here than to a far away country that doesn't even want us there…"

**News Flash**
Your tax dollars already go to children's health care. CHIP is an existing health care program. Bush's veto did not end the program. He veto'd the expansion of the program which would have covered middle class children and adults up to the age of 25.

The legislation also included a provision to cover some households in New York who make up to $83,000 annually.

If your family is earning $75,000 by your example and they cannot afford health care for their children then they aren't very responsible parents.

I work with a woman who makes $60,000 and is a single parent of two boys. She has no problem providing her children with health care coverage unsubsidized by the government.

Most of the posts here are nothing more than another knee jerk reaction to a headline without doing any research on their own. Typical

Sometimes I have to wonder if this man have a conscience or he's just a lunatic?

Oh and for the people who keep making statements such as this law provides medical coverage for children in homes making up to $83,000 a year - here's a little reality check for you, brought to you by factcheck.org, endorsed by none other than Dick Cheney…

http://www.factcheck.org/bushs_false_claims_about_childrens_health_insurance.html

Congress is taking the entirely wrong tack on this issue. Instead of expanding the SCHIP to pay for 25 year old kids whose parents make $83K a year. How about going after the pharmaceutical and insurance industry? After all, that's why health insurance costs so much in the first place. That's where the system is broken, SCHIP is just a finger in the dike.
Oh, silly me, I forgot that those two industries own Capitol Hill.

Yes, poor kids first….and Bush and the Republicans are making more and more kids poor every day.

If you read these commets from the people who put down Bush's veto, they did not read or understand the bill. I think they are just democrats against the republicans. I don't think a 25 year old is a child….wake up

Again democrats are trying to pull the wool over the real issue. POOR CHILDREN is what the bill reads, $75,000.00 a year income with 10 children in the house maybe, but not 25 years old either. Please wake up and smell the truth. By the way I am not a DEM or GOP. I only want to see the truth and be told the truth

Terrorist Bush only vetoed it so he could have more money for the war in Iraq so he can get the oil for himself.The war had nothing to do with 9/11.

No one should be suprised at the veto of this bill. It acually helps someone with ono political or monetary clout. When you talk about this president it means trying to find a way to get all you can from no bid contracts which most are people bush knows or his cronies know and will kick back money to. History will remember this president that single handedly did away with the middle class. He has done not one thing to stop good jobs going overseas, or trying to stem the rise in medical costs oil and on and on. If anyone remembers before 9-11 how he was called Mr. do nothing while his buddy Chaney was said to be running the country. It is no different now.

Bush the liberator!! For the Iraqi's and the American taxpayers..

Correction on the price tag to police action Should read $180,000,000,000.00 But then what's three more zeros for our children to pay back.