Thread: Obama cheers Congress over children's health bill

Socialized Medicine Warning "down payment" implies more to come as in "every American".

2 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) — President Barack Obama on Friday praised Congress for passing a bill extending medical care to an extra four million children, in an early victory for his plans to reform healthcare.

The Senate voted 66 to 32 to pass the bill late Thursday, but in another sign of the tough task Obama faces to live up to his vow to drain partisanship from Washington politics, only nine Republicans voted in favor.

"As the worsening economy causes families to lose their jobs and health insurance, it is vital that we redouble our efforts to ensure that every child in America has access to affordable health care," Obama said in a statement.

"That is why I am pleased that the Senate has joined the House in passing bipartisan legislation to provide health insurance to children whose families have been hurt most by this downturn.

"Providing health care to more than ten million children through the Children's Health Insurance Program will serve as a down payment on my commitment to ensure that every American has access to quality, affordable health care."

The measure is similar to legislation twice vetoed by President George W. Bush, and is another building block in attempts by Obama's Democrats to roll back the former US leader's Republican agenda.

The bill, which earlier passed by 289 votes to 139 in the House, renews the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), preserving healthcare coverage for seven million children and extends it to four million who were uninsured.

It is paid for partly by raising the tax on tobacco, among other measures, a move which the bill's advocates say will have the added benefit of discouraging more than a million children from taking up smoking.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/ar ... WIfGpsCm7g

nine Republicans voted in favor.

Alexander (R-TN)
Collins (R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)
Hutchison (R-TX) Why she shouldn't run for Gov. of Texas
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)

& one Independent

Sanders (I-VT)

I'm really supprised that the RINOs Graham and McCain didn't jump at the chance to vote for this.