From CNN:
President Bush signaled a willingness Saturday to spend more than what he had recommended for a popular children's health program, but provided no specifics on how much higher he would go.
The president on Wednesday vetoed legislation that would increase spending for the State Children's Health Insurance Program by $35 billion over five years. Bush has called for a $5 billion increase. Several Republicans in both chambers have sided with Democratic lawmakers on the issue.
"If putting poor children first takes a little more than the 20 percent increase I have proposed in my budget for SCHIP, I am willing to work with leaders in Congress to find the additional money," Bush said in his weekly radio address.
Commentary below the fold.
Looks like Mr. 27% can't even hold up to overwhelming bipartisan opinion that we should be taking care of our children's health needs. As usual, though, Bush is using vague words to signal some sort of support, without really offering any specifics. This can be changed, however.
The pressure is working. Our Congresspeople and candidates have come out in full support of this bill. The media and public opinion are on our side. FFS, this has a 72% national approval rating. Nearly 3 in 4 people support this initiative.
What needs to be done? Continue to call and write to newspapers, your Congresspeople. Keep the pressure on, especially on Republican representatives in close districts that voted against this. This is not a partisan matter, opinion polls clearly show that, and when conservative crazies like Pat Robertson of Kansas are throwing their full support behind this bill, you know that one man can only stand in the way of progress for so long.
The other thing that needs to be done? Vote Democratic. We wouldn't even have to be going through this song and dance if there was a Democrat in the White House.
Even Bush is starting to realize that he's on the losing side of this one. Make sure that he fully realizes it by speaking out.