The tweaker-dingy Harry
>Reid hints that minor tweaks could lead to SCHIP breakthrough
politico.com, Sept 16, 2007
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), on Tuesday signaled that he's willing to accept a few small tweaks to the legislation, without compromising on the dollar figure or the number of children covered under the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
While both sides are posturing and holding heated press conferences as the SCHIP override vote approaches on Thursday, House and Senate aides have begun to discuss how to very modestly adjust the bill's language in order to lure just a dozen or so House Republicans to vote for the legisation and achieve a veto proof majority in both chambers. The Senate already has a veto proof majority, but the House is about least two dozen votes short.
One idea being floated would be to explicitly say that families making $80,000 a year would not be eligible for the program, even though no state offers benefits to people making that much money. Another small tweak could be straightforward language that bans undocumented immigrants from receiving SCHIP benefits, even though Democrats contend that current law already bans such coverage.
While these tweaks would do nothing to change the dollar amount or the number of kids covered, such changes could provide just enough political cover for reluctant Republicans to switch sides and embrace the popular program. These changes would also address two of the major Republican talking points against the legislation _ that it would cover people making too much money and could allow illegal immigrants to receive benefits. None of these ideas have been officially proposed, but aides involved with the issue say they could quickly become key discussion points in the future.
"If the president wants to save face and cover up what he’s done, yes," Reid said, when asked about the potential for minor changes in the bill. "If he wants to tweak something so he can say ‘they capitulated’ … if it accomplishes the same thing [covering same number of kids], sure.”
Don't expect any real movement on SCHIP negotiations until after the Thursday veto override vote. But as soon as that roll call is done, the real negotiations may begin.
Comments:
It wont change anything. Bush and the republicans will still be against it because they hate the poor working class and especially poor working class children.
Posted By: read it and weep | October 16, 2007 at 05:51 PM
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Read it and weep: Prove they hate the working class? Back up your hate or go away
Posted By: Dave | October 16, 2007 at 06:34 PM
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The amount of pure ignorance on this matter is astounding.The veto had nothing to do with poor children and the republicans are cowards if they go along with the tax increase that is noting but a money give away to states that are coming up short on medicaid funding.There aren't 10 million uninsured poor kids not covered by the old program.This is a bald face lie and the media perpetuates it.The greedy liberals use kids and any other cause to raise taxes and buffoon citizens fall for it every time.USA just had a survey today and over 50% of the people said leave it alone for poor kids
Posted By: Intrepid2 | October 16, 2007 at 06:39 PM
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Harry reid is flaunting his 3% favorabilty rating. ------- just a few days ago he was not going to bend, twist, modify, change or do anything to the Bill called the Childrent and Illegal alien amnesty and Medical welfare act of 2007. -------- The dummy should leave a good enough bill alone ----- playing games with the existing bill only ruins st as no one trusts the SENATE to do anything right. ------ He can Tell he Surrendering Senators to do something worthwhile for a change - like go home.
Posted By: Tahoblue | October 16, 2007 at 06:52 PM
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Republicans do not hate the poor, alot of us were poor but we went to work (maybe read it and weep should try it) This bill is bull. It covers parents who should pay for their childrens insurance, covers some til 25, and covers some illegals. No way am I working to cover other people children who can well afford it. I have always taken care of my own children.
Posted By: KB | October 16, 2007 at 06:56 PM
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The thing is they won't give the money back if they don't need it, they'll just have more bonus money for bureaucrats.If you don't beat the liberals back on this scam they'll come back again and again with newe tax schemes.The SOB's use attack dog groups showing up at congress members homes disturbing thier private life using bully tactics.F a liberal.
Posted By: Intrep[d2 | October 16, 2007 at 07:17 PM
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Bush wins again. What a lame duck.
Posted By: Right-minded Frank | October 16, 2007
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