Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Uniter Not a Divider
Bush blasts Congress on several fronts
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/17/bush/index.html
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush attacked Congress on Wednesday, ripping the new Democratic leadership for failing to achieve much in their first nine months of power.
President Bush speaks at a White House press conference on Wednesday.
Bush used his opening statement to list areas where he said "Congress has work to do": health care; security; the budget; education; housing; trade; help for military veterans; law enforcement and the judiciary.
He complained about progress on a number of bills before Congress, including children's health insurance, spending plans and internal surveillance legislation, saying Congress has wasted much of the past nine months.
"Now the clock is winding down. In some key areas, Congress is just getting started," Bush said.
"One of Congress' basic duties is to fund the day-to-day operations of the federal government. Yet Congress has not sent me a single appropriations bill," Bush said.
Bush said congressional Democrats are wasting time with proposed legislation calling the actions of Ottoman Turks against Armenians during World War I "genocide."
"With all these pressing responsibilities, one thing Congress should not be doing is sorting out the historical record of the Ottoman Empire," Bush said. "The resolution on the mass killings of Armenians beginning in 1915 is counterproductive. ...
"Congress has more important work to do than antagonizing a democratic ally in the Muslim world, especially one that's providing vital support for our military every day," Bush said.
U.S.-Turkey relations were strained further Wednesday as the Turkish parliament overwhelmingly approved military action against Kurdish separatists based in Iraq. Turkey has massed 60,000 troops along its border with Iraq.
Bush said Wednesday the U.S. is asking the Turkish government for restraint.
"We are making it very clear to Turkey that we don't think it is in their interests to send troops into Iraq," he said while acknowledging that some Turkish troops have crossed the border.
On the war on terror, Bush said it was important that Congress act on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act so that progress can continue to be made against al Qaeda.
"Al Qaeda's still dangerous. They're dangerous in Iraq. They're dangerous elsewhere. Al Qaeda's not going to go away any time," Bush said. "That's why it's important for us to be listening -- you know, finding out what their intentions are and what are their plans, so we can respond to them."
On children's health care, Bush earlier this month vetoed legislation that would increase spending for the State Children's Health Insurance Program by $35 billion over five years. Bush has called for a $5 billion increase. Congressional Democrats are trying to gather enough votes for to override a veto.
It's Bush's 20th press conference this year.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Bush veto for child health bill
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7026454.stm
US President George W Bush has vetoed a bill to expand a children's health care insurance scheme, after it was passed with a large majority in the Senate.
Mr Bush argues it takes the programme beyond its original purpose of insuring children from low-income families.
The vetoed bill proposed higher tobacco taxes to provide an extra $35bn (£17bn) to insure some 10 million children.
Children's health insurance is set to be a campaign issue in next year's elections, analysts say.
Eighteen Republican senators joined Democrats last week in passing the legislation by a 67-29 vote.
But the House of Representatives, which approved the bill by 265-159, was well short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.
It is only the fourth time Mr Bush has used his veto power in the course of his presidency.
Public support
The State Children's Health Insurance Programme (SCHIP) currently subsidises health care for some 6.6 million people, most of them children.
Mr Bush had said he wanted only a $5bn increase in funding for the scheme.
He argued that expanding its coverage further would encourage people currently covered in the private sector to switch to government coverage - and that was too costly.
His decision to veto the bill is likely to prove unpopular with many people, however, correspondents say.
A Washington Post/ABC News poll suggested that more than seven in 10 Americans supported the $35bn increase proposed in the bill.
Democrats in the House say they will seek to persuade sufficient Republican congressmen to change sides to be able to override Mr Bush's veto.
But House Republican leader Roy Blunt said he was "absolutely confident" that he would be able to prevent that happening.
Many Republicans are likely to feel the pressure of public opinion ahead of congressional elections in November next year.
US President George W Bush has vetoed a bill to expand a children's health care insurance scheme, after it was passed with a large majority in the Senate.
Mr Bush argues it takes the programme beyond its original purpose of insuring children from low-income families.
The vetoed bill proposed higher tobacco taxes to provide an extra $35bn (£17bn) to insure some 10 million children.
Children's health insurance is set to be a campaign issue in next year's elections, analysts say.
Eighteen Republican senators joined Democrats last week in passing the legislation by a 67-29 vote.
But the House of Representatives, which approved the bill by 265-159, was well short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.
It is only the fourth time Mr Bush has used his veto power in the course of his presidency.
Public support
The State Children's Health Insurance Programme (SCHIP) currently subsidises health care for some 6.6 million people, most of them children.
Mr Bush had said he wanted only a $5bn increase in funding for the scheme.
He argued that expanding its coverage further would encourage people currently covered in the private sector to switch to government coverage - and that was too costly.
His decision to veto the bill is likely to prove unpopular with many people, however, correspondents say.
A Washington Post/ABC News poll suggested that more than seven in 10 Americans supported the $35bn increase proposed in the bill.
Democrats in the House say they will seek to persuade sufficient Republican congressmen to change sides to be able to override Mr Bush's veto.
But House Republican leader Roy Blunt said he was "absolutely confident" that he would be able to prevent that happening.
Many Republicans are likely to feel the pressure of public opinion ahead of congressional elections in November next year.
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