Dems vow new bill if S-chip veto stands

from the Olberlin Times

By HOPE YEN, Associated Press Writer Sun Oct 14, 5:11 PM ET

WASHINGTON - House Democratic leaders said Sunday they were working to gather votes to override a veto on a popular children‘s health program, but pledged to find a way to cover millions without insurance should their effort fail.

Deputy press secretary Tony Fratto quoted President Bush as saying he is "willing to work with members of both parties from both houses" on the issue.

Pelosi and Hoyer promised to pass another bipartisan bill if needed.

"We‘ll try very hard to override it. But one thing‘s for sure: We won‘t rest until those 10 million children have health care," she said in an interview broadcast Sunday.

"This is a defining moment for the Republican Party, in my opinion," Hoyer said, before adding later: The program is "not going to die. We‘re going to go back and we‘re going to pass another bill."

An override requires a two-thirds majority in the House and Senate. The Senate approved the increase by a veto-proof margin, but the earlier House vote fell about two dozen votes short.

On Sunday, House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said he hopes that Democrats will agree to negotiate once the veto is sustained so that the children‘s insurance program can be reauthorized.

"Most people don‘t want government-run health insurance," he added. "Republicans are working on a plan that will provide access to all Americans to high-quality health insurance, make sure that we increase the quality of health insurance that we have in America."

On Sunday, Pelosi did not comment on the predicted vote tally.

Fratto said it was untrue that Bush had never sought compromise in the vetoed legislation, contending that Democrats had shut out administration officials in the original negotiations. House Democrats have countered that they had already compromised enough because they wanted $50 billion for the program but dropped it down to $35 billion to appease Senate Republicans.

"It is encouraging that Speaker Pelosi has expressed a willingness to find common ground," Fratto said Sunday.

Pelosi spoke on ABC‘s "This Week," and Hoyer and Boehner appeared on "Fox News Sunday."

By HOPE YEN, Associated Press Writer Sun Oct 14, 5:11 PM ET

WASHINGTON - House Democratic leaders said Sunday they were working to gather votes to override a veto on a popular children‘s health program, but pledged to find a way to cover millions without insurance should their effort fail.

Deputy press secretary Tony Fratto quoted President Bush as saying he is "willing to work with members of both parties from both houses" on the issue.

Pelosi and Hoyer promised to pass another bipartisan bill if needed.

"We‘ll try very hard to override it. But one thing‘s for sure: We won‘t rest until those 10 million children have health care," she said in an interview broadcast Sunday.

"This is a defining moment for the Republican Party, in my opinion," Hoyer said, before adding later: The program is "not going to die. We‘re going to go back and we‘re going to pass another bill."

An override requires a two-thirds majority in the House and Senate. The Senate approved the increase by a veto-proof margin, but the earlier House vote fell about two dozen votes short.

On Sunday, House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said he hopes that Democrats will agree to negotiate once the veto is sustained so that the children‘s insurance program can be reauthorized.

"Most people don‘t want government-run health insurance," he added. "Republicans are working on a plan that will provide access to all Americans to high-quality health insurance, make sure that we increase the quality of health insurance that we have in America."

On Sunday, Pelosi did not comment on the predicted vote tally.

Fratto said it was untrue that Bush had never sought compromise in the vetoed legislation, contending that Democrats had shut out administration officials in the original negotiations. House Democrats have countered that they had already compromised enough because they wanted $50 billion for the program but dropped it down to $35 billion to appease Senate Republicans.

"It is encouraging that Speaker Pelosi has expressed a willingness to find common ground," Fratto said Sunday.

Pelosi spoke on ABC‘s "This Week," and Hoyer and Boehner appeared on "Fox News Sunday."