Bush Says Democrats Risking Kids’ Health

[fencesitter]

Source: New York Times

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 20, 2007
Filed at 1:09 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush challenged Democrats on Thursday to quickly renew a popular children's health insurance program and accused them of ''putting poor children at risk so they can score political points in Washington.''

The State Children's Health Insurance Program is set to expire Sept. 30. Democrats are pushing for a $35 billion spending increase for SCHIP, and Bush has threatened to veto it. He has proposed a $5 billion increase.

The president urged lawmakers to send him a simple, temporary extension of the program if both sides cannot agree on the terms of a new measure.

''If they fail to do so, more than a million children could lose health coverage,'' Bush said at a press conference. ''Health coverage for these children should not be held hostage while political ads are being made and new polls are being taken.''



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Childrens-Insurance.html?_r=1&oref=slogin