Last night Speaker Pelosi announced she would bring a slightly revised SCHIP funding bill to the House floor for a vote — today. The revised bill still provides $35 billion in additional funds and health coverage for 10 million children, but it makes a few changes to counter the Bush Administration’s misrepresentations and opponent’s alleged concerns.
As Pelosi promised last week, the plan is to enact the full SCHIP funding again, and if the President is foolish and heartless enough to veto it again, attempt another override, with the opposition having even fewer excuses to vote no. This type of strategy is exactly what many progressives have been hoping from the Democratic leadership when they know the public is solidly behind them against an out-of-touch, unpopular President. It’s not just good politics; it’s good public policy, because this program deserves passage and has the overwhelming support of the American people.
The changes include clarification that coverage does not extend to families with annual incomes at $83,000 (a confusion left over from New York’s request that the Administration had already denied); it apparently won’t cover those not legally in the US for five years; and it further limits coverage for adults who do not have covered children.
Although the “revision” regarding immigrants appears only a clarification of what was already in the prior bill, the absence of potential coverage for undocumented immigrants is particularly regrettable; denying health care to any child is both morally unconscionable and incomprehensible from a public health perspective. But in light of yesterday’s 52-44 failed cloture vote — 60 were needed — on the DREAM Act, which would have allowed those undocumented immigrants brought to the US when they were 15 or younger to earn a path to legal status after two years of college or military service [see Marisa Trevino's post and Phoenix Woman's coverage], that exclusion in SCHIP appeared politically unavoidable. Add that to the list of 100+ other really important things we need to fix in 2009.
From Speaker Pelosi’s statement:
“It’s supported by a bipartisan coalition, Democrats and Republicans across the country. Republican and Democratic governors support the SCHIP initiative. Every organization that you can name, from the AARP to the YWCA, and everything in between, AMA, the Catholic Hospital Association, Families First, are lobbying for the passage of this legislation. . . .
“The focus is on the poor children. These are poor children. The poorest children receive their health care through Medicaid. Then just above that tier, the working poor families, the focus is there and we’re very proud of the legislation.
“It honors the spirit of 10 million children, $35 billion all paid for, no new deficit spending, pay as you go. And again, this is a clarification of the legislation that we put forth to ensure these children. We are responding to some of the concerns expressed by our colleagues and some clarification that we thought improved the bill.”
The White House, already concerned about having to go behind closed doors again to veto a popular children’s health program, issued a “fact sheet” — meaning it is full of misrepresentations and diversions. Bill Scher at Campaign for America’s Future debunks that nonsense, while The Hill reports on how anxious Bush loyalist Republicans are to be seen as willing to compromise.
This is what we asked for; it’s what Democrats need to do. So we’ll need your phone help again, both in getting the revised bill passed by large margins and in working to override the expected veto. And if we need extra motivation, ask why is this man still smiling?
We’ve taken some lumps lately, with the first SCHIP override vote and then Southwick’s confirmation and the DREAM Act failing cloture. But this is one we can win . . . and/or make the opposition pay dearly next November. And who knows; if the Democrats actually win one, they might be willing to stand up to Bush on FISA.
Photo: Kids hauling petitions to override the SCHIP veto. (AFP/File/Mandel Ngan)
Related posts:
- Does House Health Care Bill Eliminate SCHIP?
- Actual Action At the House Rules Committee On The Health Care Bill: Stupak Amendment To Get Floor Vote
- House Health Care Vote Scheduled for Saturday
- 53 House Progressives Won’t Vote for Blue Dog Compromise
- Carolyn Maloney: I’ll Vote for a Bill That Doesn’t Have a Public Plan
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yo crow
oh boy.
Caw Caw Good Morning Scarecrow.
Let’s right the Schip, no $ for war until we insure the children.
Morning, Scarecrow…
-MS
Caw, caw! Good morning Scarecrow. I think we’re gonna win this one.
Six!
Good Morning, all… coffee is ready and again this morning, it is STRONG…
Fire is still burning hard this morning but moving up the mountain instead of toward the houses.
Oh OldCoastie! So glad to hear you are ok and that Loo Hoo’s house is apparently all right too.
Got yer Katymine numbers right here:
1 (800) 828 – 0498
1 (800) 614 – 2803
1 (866) 340 – 9281
1 (866) 338 – 1015
1 (877) 851 – 6437
So, OC, seems your house was spared. Good for you.
Caw caw!
Besides a call to the phones, this is a feel good post, too.
Good morning, Scarecrow.
Morning,
Wish I could get excited about this but doing something sensible seems unworthy of celebration. Have we fallen so far that the perfectly reasonable is now worthy of the Snoopy Dance?
When the Democratic Leadership can actually find the intestinal fortitude to chance doing something that might possibly be construed as being “dangerous” behavior by someone who is not a “liberal,” please call me.
What sort of things? Oh, cutting funding to end this stupid war. How about kicking that little prick Erik Prince back to the Holland, Michigan where he can nurse at his mommy’s teat again? Or maybe actually enforce a couple of their demands for documents from this lawless administration.
Until then, I remain skeptical and unconvinced that they have note been coopted and compromised like Holy Joe and his newfound wealth for his family.
scarecrow – i’m a little confused. the schip bill that failed last week also didn’t cover legal immigrant children (until after a 5 year wait)…. i don’t think that’s a change that was made this week.
Elliott @ 10
Wouldn’t that be a cawl to the phones?
egregious @ 14
Quick, where’s Punaise?
maybe now that the other fires are out, we can get some planes…
selise @ 13
My understanding, although limited, is that they are rewording the bill just to make it clearer. It’s a saving face technique for the repubs, IMO.
You know what makes me seethe. The repubs who want to deny coverage to the undocumented are the same ones who want them to paint their house for $5/hr. Sure, they can work for wages that would make paying for healthcare impossible, but don’t ask for anything in return.
Oops, just looked at the clock. See everyone later.
Toby Wollin @ 15
who needs punaise when we have egregious! lol!
Jim Clausen @ 3
I like that. Although it seems were about $2.4 trillion in long-run commitments too late on the war. Just staggering.
JPL @ 17
I think that’s right. If you look at the link to Pelosi’s statement, she says “we’ve clarified that . . .” So perhaps they’re just knocking down phony talking points; but given the constant drumbeat of anti immigrant demogoguery from Lou Dobbs and others, it’s unfortunate that they need to go out of their way to say, “we aren’t covering these kids” as a way to sell something.
Elliott @ 19
A world without punaise would be egregious.
DWD @ 5:14 -
May I pull up a chair and sit next to you today? Have been around the Lake for quite a while now and, while I love the optimism of so many pups, my feelings of confidence in the Dims getting much of anything accomplished has taken a very heavy hit lately. I’ve personally reached the stage known as “I’ll get excited *after* it happens”.
Doesn’t mean I’ll stop working to make it happen but it sure has been a loooooong ten months with what appears most days to be very little to show for it. My admiration for the front pagers and so many others here to keep a stiff upper lip and keep on slogging thru’ the mire grows daily.
Scarecrow @ 22
that was deep
JPL @ 17
i think it’s the language about undocumented immigrants that is changing (although i haven’t seen the new language) – although the previous version didn’t include coverage for undocumented children, a common republican talking point was that the requirements for documentation would permit some cheating. the new language is supposed to address that “concern”…. (agreed – face saving).
but scarecrow’s post says that coverage for legal immigrant children was pulled this week – and that was done prior to the last two votes (in the house).
Elliott @ 19
Or perhaps we have to change egregious’ moniker to “Daytime Punster”.
Elliott @ 19
Watch it, you’re gonna get me smited by lightning or something. [bows deeply to punaise, the master]
egregious @ 27
the undisputed master.
Elliott @ 28
The pundisputed master
Made a ton of calls last time. I need to focus my efforts and my Congress critters are on board. Who are the best targets, ones who would be sensitive to a non-constituent calling from a BlueState (where everyone is wearing red,
including the best of the pres. candidates, e.g. below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…../152944/29
Try it. you’ll like it. even if you are a Yankee or Rockies fan.
BTW, unlike Rudiculous Giuliani, Obama refused to change Sox when in the BlueState yesterday. White Sox he remains.
selise @ 26
I’ll clarify the post.
IMO, Republcans voting for this will call it a victory for them and the American people, because the (non)changes protect us from fraud.
Re other post: don’t give $$$ to RED CROSS — they’ve stolen or wasted every past tragedy so let’s stop making the same mistake over and over and over and over again.
DON’T BELIEVE ME — LISTEN TO NY AG ELLIOT SPITZER:
http://www.government-propagan…..cross.html
Investigation finds Red Cross agreed to withhold Orleans aid, operates in tandem with Homeland Security
Jennifer Van Bergen
Top Red Cross official Bush appointee, donor
New information surrounding relief efforts by the American Red Cross in New Orleans raises questions about whether the organization provided adequate relief and whether funds are actually being directed to Katrina victims, RAW STORY has found.
Previous investigations have shown that the Red Cross mishandled its 9/11 fund, attempting to divert more than half into a “war fund” before Congress intervened, and moved $10 million from a fund in 1989 for earthquake victims towards other uses. Allegations of similar holdbacks following the Oklahoma City bombing and several later disasters, coupled with the discovery that the Red Cross, mandated by its Code of Conduct to remain independent of government, is officially part of the Bush Administration’s national security apparatus, led RAW STORY to dig deeply into the Red Cross and its recent disaster relief efforts.
Read entire article here
Red Cross Pocketed Half Of 9/11 Donations
CNN | January 3 2005
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Charities swung into action after the September 11 terrorist attacks, raising more than $1 billion. But questions are being raised about where and how and how much of that money is being distributed.
Bearing the brunt Tuesday during a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s oversight panel was outgoing Red Cross President Dr. Bernadine Healy.
The Red Cross has raised more than $564 million for the Liberty Fund, which was set up in response to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
While the agency states on its Web site that it is spending more than any other relief agency responding to the terrorist attacks, it has distributed only $154 million.
Healy was hammered by one New York official for the Red Cross’ decision to put aside nearly half of the money raised for future needs that may include terrorist attacks.
“I see the Red Cross, which has raised hundreds of millions of dollars that was intended by the donating public to be used for the victims of September 11 — I see those funds being sequestered into long-term plans for an organization,” testified New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer.
waccamaw,
You are welcome but as Joni Mitchell once sang,
He said, “You wouldn’t like it here
No, it’s no place you should share
The roof is ripped with hurricanes
And the room is always bare”
I have been so disappointed in the collusion of my leaders with the Republicans that words actually fail me. I can take losing. I cannot take not even trying. If there is anything that has made me more cynical than ever it is watching the Republicans as a minority continue to run the Senate. The Democrats could have done this and we would not have Roberts and Alito and all of the bad legislation of the last five years. They could have, should have: they did not.
That is pathetic.
dogmatta @ 33
There is always Noah’s Wish disaster relief for critters. We sent most of our Katrina money there because we didn’t trust the Red Cross.
Scarecrow @ 31 –
thanks scarecrow. the lack of coverage for immigrant children has been a concern for me.
JPL @ 32
Imagine being one of those Repubis telling the voters that you should get credit for revising SCHIP by claiming you made sure the children of undoc-immigrants would not receive health care. Makes you wonder.
If Congress critters had any intelligence, and there is grave doubt that any do, they’d worked out in committee the different versions of a bill they’d re-introduce seriatim, so that steady pressure can be applied to the opposition.
Scarecrow, I live in Dr. Tom Price’s district and he’d have no problem denying health care to children of undocumented immigrants, IMO.
egregious @ 8
Thank you for posting these, and good morning Ms. egregious.
dogmatta @ 33 –
yep. but the american red cross should not be confused with the icrc (international committee of the red cross)
JPL @ 39
Seriously? The man is a Doctor? What would he do if he came upon a child injured after hit by a car? Would he ask to see the child’s papers?
[Didn’t get smited?] Oh, well then, you’re welcome Scarecrow.
My comment here has nothing to do with passing SCHIP. Pass it by all means! But I have a beef with Pelosi’s description of “poor”. It’s a relatively common description, but it makes me cringe every time I read it or hear it. A family of four or so earning over 40 thousand dollars a year shouldn’t be referred to as “poor”. Not being able to afford health insurance doesn’t automatically mean that you are poor. It means that the health insurance industry is ripping us off. It means the health insurance programs in our country need to be worked over.
i watched some of the schip debates on the house floor… and was amazed/sickened by the anti-immigrant rhetoric and lies. very sad.
Kitt @ 44
Yes, I would have preferred that Pelosi say that many middle class families need this program, because affordable private health insurance is just not available, and we make no apologies for helping the middle class get health care for their children. For heaven’s sake, a huge majority of the public supports this.
twolf1 @ 29
I have suggested to punaise that he visit Callahan’s Crosstime Saloon sometime and challenge Doc Webster during the Pun Wars.
dakine01 @ 47
*G* do you go there? If you do, you’ll know that rain_man is the current master.
Scarecrow @ 46
In some respects it is dependent on where the family of four is as to whether earning $40k is “poor” or not. NYC, Boston, DC, LA, SF, and Honolulu, forty thousand per is borderline poverty if not below.
Lindy @ 48
Only in the books
Morning everyone. Selise, did you see the dust-up with Sens. Durbin and Tancredo? Durbin had a presser with some immigrant families, and Tancredo called law enforcement to raid the press conference because he thought some of the folks in attendance were illegal immigrants — which they decidedly were not.
The jingoism has gotten way, way out of control. Beyond appalling and nasty…
Appalling indeed. ‘Be scared of brown people’ is all they’ve got left.
Scarecrow @ 42
He’s my Rep, too. If the kid even looked poor, I think he’d just keep on walking.
In some respects it is dependent on where the family of four is as to whether earning $40k is “poor” or not. NYC, Boston, DC, LA, SF, and Honolulu, forty thousand per is borderline poverty if not below.
I’m not disputing that. I just think the Dems are much better positioned on health care reform generally (as well as support for good government generally) if they unapologetically argue that the middle class deserves affordable health care, and government has a role in making that happen.
Scarecrow @ 46
I think this fits with the various analyses of why Bush doesn’t want SCHIP to succeed. When a program of government insurance succeeds with middle class families, it will prove the lie about how private health insurance is better.
Pelosi may say it is for poor people to avoid getting into fight about adding additional middle class entitlements… but in reality it pushes into middle class. Which is a good step. Though people don’t like to be told they are poor.
The US is bogged down in Iraq. It hasn’t resolved the Blackwater matter and may need to make major changes in how it provides security for the tens of thousands of “non-military” people it has there. The Turks are threatening to invade the Kurdish areas and are already shelling Kurdish villages. The Brits are leaving. The war’s cost long run is predicted to be over $2.4 billions trillion. We have 160,000 military who are sitting ducks, and another 180,000 “civilians” who would also be targets. So what should we do?
Why don’t we designate the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist org, so that we can increase the likelihood of war with Iran.
I’m not real fond of this approach. i don’t think. As we all know, the vetoed bill WAS a compromise, so we’re compromising on the compromise. How many times do our people have to compromise with themselves? The “clarifications” mentioned in the post were true of the vetoed bill. The point was to call them on their lies. The people who voted to sustain the veto are hard-core dead-enders. They aren’t going to change their votes and some have even belatedly now offered their own “compromise” bills. I just don’t see the point. The people who voted against the override are more than willing to vote against this 1,000 times, so bringing it up again and again won’t change anything. And all through the debate on SCHIP, their objections shifted. The $83,000 nonsense. then the funding source, then the funding source again. The one constant has been the claim that illegal immigrants will get benefits and these “clarifications” don’t seem to address those concerns (i.e proof of citizenship is too lax) so nothing’s going to change. The only way to go forward in my view, with yet another compromise is to remove the illegal immigrant issue from the debate. And I don’t think that’s possible because any expenditure of federal monies (domestically, not for wars) will be met with the objection that illegal immigrants will commit fraud and get their hands on “my money.” But the coach has called this play. A dive up the middle on third and 15, you say? Hey, I’m on the team. I’ll do what I can to make it work. But the game plan is a mess.
This is off topic but a good article.
US soldiers shy from battle in Iraq.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/M…..6Ak07.html
Scarecrow @ 42
Gotta disagree with this premise. Physicians have a professional obligation to treat emergency cases brought to them. But they can disagree with us on how such cases should be paid for on a systematic basis.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 51
i read about it – seriously scary.
scapegoating is playing with fire – very dangerous. and as more and more people feel economically stressed, i fear the temptation to find someone to blame it on (instead of looking at our own fucked up economic policies) will just keep increasing. very sad to see how far it’s gone already.
DWD -
Not to worry – hurricanes are something I’ve experienced up close and personal. *g*
dogmatta -
Agree 100% with your issues wrt the Red Cross. Gave the largest donation I’ve ever made before or since to them to aid the people of New York and was devastated to learn it probably never reached them. Vowed from then on NEVER to give the RC another cent…….far too many wonderful organizations out there who will spend the money people send as the giver designates.
OT
The Commanding General of Army Accessions [that would be Recruiting] is up on CSPAN
Alecia @ 58
Plenty of outfits in Vietnam avoided contact. And I’m not just taking about the ARVN!
Scarecrow @ 56
I think you meant to write, Trillion.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..components
This shows Condi testifying again. Is this true?
Scarecrow @ 54
Oh I absolutely agree. I was just pointing out that the definition of what is considered “poverty level” is quite flexible. That’s why the coverage of up to $83K should NOT be a problem as there are the areas whee $83K for a family of four is solidly in the middle.
DWD @ 12
yes.
but if just one child will now be able to see a doctor when necessary – well, it could keep the family out of the poor house, prevent permanent injury, or even save a life.
and every child’s life is worth the celebration, imo.
(and hey, i’m the person pissed off schip doesn’t cover immigrant kids *g*)
raven @ 63
You got that right. I was assigned to a CIDG unit (a local militia from a Vietnamese village) for a while, carrying a radio for their American captain/advisor so we could stay in contact with our 1st Cav unit. They knew exactly where not to go, to avoid contact with VC/NVA, and where it was safe to set up to cook dinner.
selise @ 45
Here’s what the revolting Rep Virginia Foxx had to say in a “guest editorial” link
Alecia @ 58
Plenty of outfits in Vietnam avoided contact. And I’m not just taking about the ARVN!
From the Boss
snowbird42 @ 65
This morning at 10.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 51
OMG. Tancredo needs to be tested. And no one get close – I’ll bet he’s rabid, too.
Kitt @ 64
Yep. A thousand fold apology.
snowbird42 @ 65
yep. 10 am on c-span3. see the list.
egregious @ 52
Not necessarily. ‘Be scared of porn’ may still catch on.
Here’s the link for the Condi testimony this morning at 10.
Condi’s date with Henry
beerfart liberal @ 57
The veto’d bill was most definitely a compromise. And it appears that this bill is doing nothing more than very slightly tweaking the language used to be more explicit. Just exactly what we have been asking them to do in this and many other areas.
Force them to keep voting and keep going on record that they oppose children (or the troops or whatever topic). They will either cave in very shortly or they will be “retired” in the next election.
Shhh, Scarecrow, if you tell them *that*’s what you think they could do next, they’re just as likely to say, “Oh, never mind, then.”
(I mean, we *are* talking about the *Democrats* here…)
Democrats should shove it down their throats. No more compromise – in fact they should increase bill $2-3 billion more and cover legal immigrant children as well (I know with the racist tendencies in DC this will not happen, but I can dream!).
It won’t be long before Republicans have another attack on SCHIP – actually they already started! It goes something like this: “With all of the people displaced and without homes by fires in CA all that the Democrats can do is try to score political points and this is just mean-spirited. A resolution must be passed in the Senate condemning the Democrats for causing the CA wildfires!”
SunnyNobility @ 69
There is a concerted effort by Rs to justify their votes on SCHIP. Tom Price had an op-ed in the Atlanta paper this week, and now this one by Fox. I’m sure there are others. I think it shows how scared they are that their votes will hurt them.
BTW, SunnyNobility, are you in Fox’s district?
Helen @ 76
I don’t want to miss the opening statements. I’m imagining Rice will be as she was in front of the 9-11 Commission
Elliott @ 81
Rice is one of the most evasive witnesses I’ve ever seen. She should have her right to use English suspended until she promises to speak in something other than the passive voice. [We should suspect her right . . .] heh
Alecia @ 58
That would certainly explain part of the reason miliary deaths are supposedly down; on top of the increased use of bombing vs “boots on the ground”.
Poor choice of the word “shy” on the part of the atimes, tho’. ;-)
Sunny -
Here’s what the revolting Rep Virginia Foxx had to say in a “guest editorial” link
Would like to check out your link but is it gonna make me lose a perfectly good breakfast? *g*
Waccamaw @ 61
Ditto on Red Cross…never again…after my gift for those affected by 911 went to RC ‘administrative costs’ :(
Badwater @ 75
Licking porn is so…..yuk!
Scarecrow @ 82
*g*
Scarecrow @ 82
that’s a great idea!
i started listening to yesterday’s hearing and couldn’t stand the lantos/rice love fest. don’t know, but i’ll probably give waxman’s committee a few minutes to see if i can bear it.
fyi – the SJC has jsut scheduled a hearing on fisa for next wenesday.
O/t and per MSNBC -
oral roberts u. claiming it’s $55 million in debt. Quel dommage!
Time to hit up the fundies again.
WASHINGTON (CNN) — House Republicans are fuming over Democrats’ decision to hold the next vote on the State Children’s Health Insurance Program on Thursday — when many Republicans will be in California as President Bush tours areas hit by wildfires.
House Democratic leaders Steny Hoyer, left, and Nancy Pelosi discuss the kids’ health insurance vote last week.
“Five to seven members are going, all of whom would be ‘no’ votes, and [Democrats] know it,” House Republican Whip Roy Blunt told CNN. “This is clearly designed to minimize the Republican opposition to this bill.”
Waccamaw @ 83
I guarantee it. What I assume are R Study Group talking points with her inimitable cold, patronizing, faux academic glaze. I wouldn’t go there.
raven @ 89
Ha! Strategy at last!
kdh22 @ 91
Yep, REALLY too bad on that one…
Christy Hardin Smith @ 51
That really is getting dangerous. I wonder if there’s any chance of having law enforcement bust in on Tancredo’s next press conference on the grounds that Martin Bohrman is reportedly on his staff.
raven @ 89
“Awww..the Democrats are not playing fair and hurting our feelings WAAAAA!!!!”
Toby Wollin @ 92
A whining Blunt early in the a.m. is music to my ears!
It’s clearly too bad that the republicans are going for their photo ops in California instead of actually getting business done.
Also, it’s sad that you can come into this country, defend it with your life, and not be granted a legal status. The Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for voting against such a measure.
Lindy @ 48
Where is it?
raven @ 6:32 -
Thugs wil be in Cal so they can get lots of “face time” on the idjit box proclaiming how wonderfully things have been handled and sucking up to bush.
Karma’s a real bummer when ya can’t be in two places at the same time. Looks like the dims have finally acquired a few “tricks”, if not a backbone. And may I say how well the art of whining becomes the thugs.
Scarecrow @ 56
What should we do? More War of course.
BuzzFlash tells us that there will be a “second front” in the Iraq Genocide/Occupation. As we all have been told many times, there has been great success in Northern Iraq. Turkish war planes are bombing the Kurds and the Kurdish terrorists are murdering Turks. Another brilliant neo-conservative plan is heating up the flames of war. But, Kommander Guy wants to save the Turks the trouble of Kurdish ethnic cleansing, by having the US military start a new surge in “Kurdistan”.
This is very amusing, but I am sure Nancy Pelosi is comfortable with more WAR. The plans for permanent mideast war by Wolfowitz and Zelikow, is a reality.
Scarecrow @ 54
In 2006, the median annual household income according to the US Census Bureau was determined to be $48,201. Basically, health care is unaffordable to all but the well-off.
Christy Hardin Smith’s got the action:
Actionable
Waccamaw @ 98
True dat
Good morning from L.A. That link to a grinning Mitch McConnell alone is enough to get me to the phone & fax re: S-CHIP before heading in to work.
Firefighters are finally near to getting a handle on Conflagration ‘07 (keeping fingers crossed). And, GWB arrives today for his photo op in the fire area- don’t know about you, but I can hardly wait…
Best fire coverage, including updating maps, still seems to be the online O.C. Register:
http://www.ocregister.com/ocre…..recentral/
TJ @ 97
Here’s the wiki
which should give you a starting point.
OldCoastie @ 6
Morning OldCoastie! Any coffee left??
Glad to hear it’s moving away from homes, but the fire’s going to last a long time if it’s in Cleveland nat’l forest — almost impossible to fight in there.
What about that other section that was going east toward Williams cyn?
raven @ 89
*Snort* Seems like the republican visit here will do some good, then. We’ll try not to pelt them with too many rotten tomatos then…
peanutbutter @ 106
(As an aside, I’m surprised they can’t phone in their votes or do video conferencing or something, but I’m not complaining!)
pma @ 93
Yes, a couple of people reported in their blogs from the Qualcomm stadium about seeing ICE etc there, very threatening people. It’s outrageous.
There’s an excellent roundup of various posts and reports on the fire collected here:
http://www.calitics.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4164
Who the heck put in a motion to adjourn the house which is now beng voted on and defeated….obviously a gop play…and why did 3 dems vote in favor????????
Also…this trip by Bush gives ‘cover’ to those gop folks on the road with him and not avail for a vote on s-chip…..
Look at the mealy-mouthed language Pelosi uses:
“…this is a clarification of the legislation that we put forth to ensure these children. We are responding to some of the concerns expressed by our colleagues and some clarification that we thought improved the bill.”
This is how she needs to talk:
“Republicans tried to lie to America about what this bill does. We Democrats have made sure they can’t do that with the new language in this bill. Republicans have to be honest and address the merits and the facts of this bill, instead of trying to confuse the American public with attacks and lies.”
Short words and firm declarations of right and wrong. Maybe if Democrats started slapping Republicans more often when they misbehaved, the Republicans would get a little gun-shy about misbehaving and about slapping Democrats.
(Er, not that you slap people with guns. But you get the idea.)
You know the dems claim Bush doesn’t get it. I say the Dems just don’t get it. They need to address 3 things; no illegals will be covered, no adults will be covered and the salary cap.
If those things aren’t in it…VETO IT!
Robert @ 112
What are you talking about? Those things were already in the old bill, and now, for slow readers, they’re expressed even more clearly in the new bill! So where are you getting this “If these things aren’t in the bill” stuff from?
Robert @ 112
Illegals aren’t covered. Dems addeessed that. GOP now says it’s to easy for illegals to use bogus i.d. because bill allows states to accept social security number as proof of being a citizen or national. But hey, even if they changed that tis core group of diehards would find another reason to vote against it. Bottom line is we need at least 20 or so new reps.
I realize this is probably opening a can of huge worms relating relating to SCHIP, but I am going for it anyway.
Since it seems like the more money we throw at kids these days, the worse off they are, maybe we can take a different approach to treating low income earners with no health care….Churches and not-for-profit organizations.
Up until not too long ago, the Catholic Church had built hospitals all over the country and continues to build in other 3rd world countries. Other religions and organizations have followed suit. Some of the best Medical Colleges are were started from these organizations, although most have since been taken over. This approach would allow costs to be decreased dramatically just by the fact that a lot of volenteerism is involved, but also it keeps it mostly in the private sector, and networks are easily made between organizations like this.
Three big benefits from this: 1) Costs, 2) People will actually care about what they are doing (a purpose), 3) Government is out of the loop.
Just out of curiosity, did SCHIP funds pay for the wagons, t-shirts, and balloons in the picture.
[RBG Note; Kurt, that kind of speculation is probably best left at some other blog.]
this seems like a ray of hope in a sea of uncertainty for what our dear leader will do.
Pelosi seems to be taking the netroots advice, sending it back again over and over to see if the president has the cojones to keep veto-ing the bills and the mean Republicans overiding them with the Dinos of course. Who knows, this will be at least interesting to watch.
Kurt @ 115
The Republican argument that “government is the enemy” is garbage.
“no health care”? What good is that? Lots of people already have that. People die from that.
Let’s see someone use their personal responsibility to save themselves when they’re on a bridge when it falls? Let’s see personal responsibility save someone when a hurricane hits their home? Let’s see personal responsibility save someone when a fire ravages half of California and rips through their neighborhood.
Any idiot and his brother knows it takes a village, it takes a tribe, it takes a gang, it takes people working together, it takes government to bring resorces together to defend the people from any number of threats and problems. Ask a Republican how much we should cut the military spending and they’ll squeal like a stuck pig. They KNOW we need government, they just don’t want to help everybody. Government for ALL the people bothers them. They just want government for the RICH people or their religious group.
New Orleans didn’t turn Republican because they liked the way Republicans govern. It turned R because they simply chased all the Democrats out of New Orleans.
Do ya think California is going to vote Republican next election? Not if they value their homes. That’s traditional family values! Democrats would have done more to protect them.
Republicans say “personal responsibility”, but even they don’t believe it. They just want their earmarks without spending anything that would politically benefit Democrats.