[Bulletin!!! Bush Says No] Children's Health Insurance: GOP, Dems Say Deal Reached In Congress

BREAKING NEWS!!! BUSH TELLS CONGRESS NO DICE

The President moments ago delivered his weekly Saturday morning radio address to the nation and has attacked the CHIP compromise. The insurance program for low-income kids is set to expire in eight days. Here's Bush: ". . . members of Congress are risking health coverage for poor children purely to make a political point."

He blames the Democrats, not mentioning that Rebublicans are part of the compromise. He looks like the one trying to make a political point.

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The Democratic leadership and some key Republicans have outlined a legislative compromise that lowers the number of uninsured kids across the U.S. and preserves the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP. Right now, it is estimated the number of kids eligible for CHIP will rise from about 6.6 million to 10.6 million. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has posted a detailed look at the compromise on her Website, and it includes statements from Republicans who brokered the bi-partisan agreement.

Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, ranking Republican on the Senate health subcommittee, has signed on to the deal and says he hopes the White House goes along. President Bush has threatened a veto of any CHIP expansion on grounds it could stress the budget. This statement from Hatch was included on Pelosi's website:

"I have been fighting for legislation that will not only continue the CHIP program, but also cover more low-income kids who are eligible for CHIP. Today, we are unveiling our bipartisan compromise that accomplishes those two very important goals. Our proposal is an honest compromise which improves a program that works for America's low-income children.

"That said, I am very sympathetic to what the President is saying about that CHIP, which has worked so well, should not become a big, one-size-fits-all government program. I am hoping that he will work with us on this program because this is a true compromise within the Senate between Democrats and Republicans, and between the House and the Senate."

So there is now a deal on this extremely important health-care program. Inquiring minds are wondering: Will Bush back off the veto threat? Will he live up to his promise to be a compassionate conservative?