House Democrats announced plans to vote on a new State-Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) bill Thursday, October 25, 2007. SCHIP light is designed to pry a few GOP votes from President Bush – eliminates “illegal” immigrant children from coverage (they’ve never been covered by Federal funds, but some state programs cover “illegal” children), reduces the maximum family income (from 80,000 to 60,000) and transitions adults now covered under SCHIP to other programs in one year (as compared to two in the vetoed version). The New York Times report is here and the Washington Post’s here

Update: The House passed its new version of S-CHIP last night The vote was 265 to 142. The AP (via Newsday) explains "The 265 votes cast for the measure came up seven shy of the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto. In addition, 14 Republicans who voted to sustain Bush's original veto were absent." Will seven of those 14 who dodged the vote abandon their sinking, stinking leader, or go down with the ship? The NY Times has a good graphic of the roll call here NY's "Randy" Kuhl and Tom Reynolds voted with Bush as did three New Jersey Republicans: Rodney Frelinghusen, Scott Garrett and Jim Saxton.

President Bush’s White House threatens further vetoes because it wants to spend less on insuring children and more on the war.

President Bush waited until he had vetoed a relatively inexpensive children’s health insurance bill before asking for tens of billions of dollars more for his misadventure in Iraq. The cynicism of that maneuver is only slightly less shameful than the president’s distorted priorities. Despite a pretense of fiscal prudence, Mr. Bush keeps throwing money at his war, regardless of the cost in blood, treasure or children’s health care.

If the New York Times get the connection between S-CHIP and the war, so should the rest of us. March Saturday against the Iraq war. For a good, quick, easy to read analysis of Mr. Bush's pro-war spending priorities (which could exceed $2.4 trillion )by the Economic Policy Institute click here . Would a powerful pro-march, anti-war Video by Robert Greenwald make it easier for you to march? Click here

The House of Representatives failed to override President Bush's veto of the State-Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). Two Democrats joined 154 Bush-loyal GOP Congress Members to sustain the veto. The roll call is here , The NY Times story, here
quotes CA. Rep. Pete Stark

“You don’t have money to fund the war or children. But you’re going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the president’s amusement.”

NY Congress Member Peter King didn't vote, Randy Kuhl and Tom Reynolds stood by their increasingly isolated President and continued to vote against health insurance for children. The effort to override Mr. Bush's veto gained no support from the GOP (indeed, it lost Mr. King's vote). Thoughts on what's next after the jump.

Congressional Democrats plan to attempt to override President Bush’s veto of the State-Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007. They have not yet the votes to override. As a result,the NY Times finds Democratic House Leader Steny Hoyer looking to compromise with Bush. There is plenty you can do to help change that.

What Can You Do? Citizens’ Action of New York is calling upon all of us to call the two Republican Congress Members Tuesday. John “Randy” Kuhl and Thomas Reynolds voted with President Bush and against children.

National Call-In Days on Health Care for Kids Monday, October 15th through Wednesday, October 17th

CALL RANDY KUHL AND TOM REYNOLDS 1-866-544-7573

All New Yorkers, wherever you live, should call Kuhl, except for Western New Yorkers, who should call Reynolds. Tell Congressmen Kuhl and Reynolds to override the President's veto of SCHIP and to expand health care coverage for hundreds of thousands of New York kids.
The vote to override the President's veto -- expected on October 18th -- will be extremely close. We need you to call now and tell everyone else you know to call!

Or -- call directly: Rep. Randy Kuhl: (202) 225-3161 – Karen Livingston (staffer)

Rep. Thomas Reynolds:(202) 225-5265 – Tina Mufford (staffer)

Children's Defense Fund suggested phone riff “New York needs you to support Congress’ SCHIP compromise bill. Child Health Plus has provided NY’s children with access to vital health care for our children. New Yorkers expect you to vote to override the President’s veto. It’s the morally right thing to do.” More, including links to some of the better ads, after the jump.

Several hundred activists gathered at Columbus Circle Thursday night to start the battle to over-ride the veto by President Bush of the expanded State-Children's Health Insurance Program. The rally, one of 250 nationwide, was organized by Moveon.org-Political Action with significant help from SEIU Local 1199 and and Unite-Here. (You can see some photos of the rally here .)

NYS Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried told the crowd about how newly insured children he had met had averted life threatening medical problems because of the availability of health care. 1199 Organizer Andy King set the crowd chanting for health care and cheering his promise that the union would work with us until the veto is overturned.

Have you been following the fight to reauthorize and expand the State-Child Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP)? Tuesday, a large majority of Congress members voted for a House-Senate compromise which will make lower cost health insurance available to millions of children who are, at present, without any. UPDATE: Thursday night, the Senate voted for S-CHIP 67-29; greater than two-thirds majority. Every GOP Senator in a tight bid for reelection in 2008 voted for S-CHIP and against Mr. Bush. President Bush, that deplorable politician, has promised a veto.

The problem progressives face is that, even with 45 GOP votes, we are 24 votes away from a veto over-riding two-thirds majority. Peter King and Vito Fossella, perhaps with a wish to avoid political extinction, voted for the bill (They’d voted against earlier versions in the House). Two NYS GOP Congress Members voted with Mr. Bush against Child Health: John "Randy" Kuhl & Thomas Renyolds. A Century Foundation poll shows voters want to spend more to insure more children and oppose a Bush veto.

Moveon.org-Politcal Action* is preparing to fight back, if Mr. Bush vetos. I’ve agreed to help put on a Manhattan Rapid Response Rally at 6PM the day after the Bush veto. We’ve decided to rally at the West Side of Columbus Circle in front of the Time-Warner building. We are still begging for permits. More than 150 others are planned. Please click here to sign-up and help. More suggested action and background post-jump.