Are We Having Funds Yet?

From the Los Angeles Times:

Setting up another confrontation with congressional Democrats over the war in Iraq, President Bush on Monday sent Congress a $45.9-billion emergency funding request for expenses related to U.S. military campaigns around the world.

The request, which comes on top of $147.5 billion sought by the administration earlier this year, pushes the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to more than $600 billion.

It also appears certain to further inflame tensions between the president and his Democratic critics on Capitol Hill, who are locked in a rancorous debate over federal spending bills as well as the war.

Original DVD cover.

KY-Jellyfish

From The Courier-Journal:

Take Sen. Mitch McConnell. His office was caught trying to promote the smear of a Baltimore family, when brain-injured 12-year-old Graeme Frost spoke up for the State Children’s Health Care Insurance Program, which helped when he and his little sister were badly injured in an accident.

Original DVD cover.

SCHIP Off the Old Block

From The Seattle Times:

Insuring children was considered the easiest part of the health-overhaul challenge because they are cheaper to cover and support for doing so is high.

But the debate bogged down on two key questions also at the heart of broader changes to cover the 47 million uninsured: costs and the role of government in helping middle-class families, not just the poor.

President Bush earlier this month vetoed a measure expanding a program that provides health insurance for children of the working poor. As expected, Thursday’s attempt to override his veto failed.

Original DVD cover.

The Stark Truth

From C-SPAN via The Raw Story:

During today’s House debates over legislation to expand the SCHIP program, vetoed by President Bush, California Democratic Rep. Pete Stark lodges an indictment against the Bush Administration, and his colleagues in the opposition, sharing his perception that there is a higher priority given to money to wage war and “blow things up” than that given to health care for American children in need.

Original DVD cover.
(See the video of the speech at the link above)

When Can We Say “Goodbye, Mr. Chimp”?

Congresspedia:

The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was created to provide health insurance coverage to children who might otherwise not have access to coverage. The program was created in 1997, and provides federal funds to states, with the states creating and administering individualized programs.
SCHIP was created by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, and enacted Title XXI of the Social Security Act.[2] The program initially allocated roughly $20 billion over five years to help states insure more children, and SCHIP plans have been approved in all 50 states.[3] The program allows each state to provide health insurance to children under the age of 19 who are not already insured, and each state sets its own guidelines. The program primarily benefits children whose families earn too much to be covered by Medicaid, but too little to afford health insurance. Roughly 6 million children fall into this category and receive coverage.

From the Chicago Tribune:

WASHINGTON – On a 265-159 vote, a broad House majority gave final approval Tuesday night to a $35 billion expansion of the popular children’s health insurance program, with members from both parties brushing aside a stern veto threat from President Bush.

Original DVD cover.