White House Chastises Democrats Over Children's Health Insurance

[EV_Ares]

From: WSJ

WASHINGTON -- President Bush chastised Congress for slow action on a host of issues, saying he is disappointed with lawmakers' inability to craft a children's health bill he's willing to sign, pass a permanent Internet tax moratorium, and finalize annual spending bills.

"With only a few weeks left on the legislative calendar, Congress needs to keep their promise to stop wasting time and get essential work done on behalf of the American people," Mr. Bush said Friday in brief remarks from the White House. (See the full text of Bush's remarks.)


The House's latest attempt to extend the State Children's Health Insurance Program passed in a 265-142 vote Thursday, a margin that falls short of the two-thirds majority necessary to override a veto. Mr. Bush vetoed the initial SCHIP legislation earlier this month and has pledged to reject the new House bill. He criticized Senate Democrats for scheduling a vote on the measure, which he said costs more than the original bill, adds millions of children from private insurance to the government plan, raises taxes, and is certain to be vetoed.

"Incredibly enough, the Senate will take up the same bill next week, which wastes valuable time," Mr. Bush said.

On the appropriations situation, Mr. Bush repeated his complaint that Congress hasn't sent him any of the 12 annual spending bills. He said Oct. 26 is the latest date in two decades that Congress has failed to get a single spending bill to the president's desk.

Among Mr. Bush's other gripes about the current Congress: its failure to confirm Michael Mukasey as attorney general or make the Internet tax moratorium permanent. Earlier Friday, the Senate approved a seven-year ban on taxes targeting Internet access services, a priority for top telecommunications and Internet companies. The House has approved a four-year extension of the ban on most state and local governments levying new taxes on Internet access services.

"The House and Senate have both passed temporary extensions, but have not agreed on a final bill," Mr. Bush said. "I urge Congress to keep the Internet tax-free and to get a bill to my desk that I can sign."

Mr. Bush also took aim at Rep. Charles Rangel's (D., N.Y.) proposed $1 trillion tax overhaul, saying the plan would boost taxes on more than a million small business owners. And he called a $23 billion water resources bill "fiscally irresponsible."

Mr. Bush began his remarks with a short recap of this trip Thursday to areas of California devastated by the recent wildfires, saying he was encouraged by the spirit of people affected by the catastrophe and the courage of first responders.

"When I got back to the White House I was disappointed by what Congress had been doing, and even more disappointed by what they had not been doing," he said.

No link as subscription only so link won't work:

[Mojambo]

1. 25 percenters aren't allowed to chastise. They whine. n/t

[rodeodance]

2. Here, the Rupug congress last time only did 9 of 11 appropriations and left the mess for new Dem con

Bush scolded congress AGAIN today but 109th "Do Nothing" Congress left with 9 of 11
Posted by rodeodance in General Discussion: Politics
Fri Oct 26th 2007, 12:39 PM
Bush scolded congress AGAIN today but 109th "Do Nothing" Congress left with 9/11 Appropriations bills NOT completed. Below Bush says "October 26 is the latest date in 20 years
that Congress has failed to get a single annual appropriations bill to the president's desk."
The Dem congress had to come in jan 20 and clean up the REPUGS mess! (see below).
Now, why isn't this message getting out by the DEMS----or the press?

Please send to ALL your congresscritters, Harry, Pelosi and the media.







Forum Name Latest Breaking News
Topic subject Bush says he'll veto health bill again
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discu...
3044249, Bush says he'll veto health bill again
Posted by Eugene on Fri Oct-26-07 11:58 AM

Source: Associated Press

Bush says he'll veto health bill again

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent
22 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - President Bush accused Democratic
lawmakers on Friday of wasting time by passing
legislation to expand children's health coverage,
knowing that he would veto it again. At the same time,
he criticized Congress for failing to approve spending
bills to keep the government running.

Bush said Congress had "set a record they should not
be proud of: October 26 is the latest date in 20 years
that Congress has failed to get a single annual
appropriations bill to the president's desk."

He also complained that Congress had failed to pass a
permanent extension of a moratorium on state and local
taxes on Internet access, and that the Senate had not
yet confirmed Michael Mukasey as attorney general.
Further, he chided Congress for failing to approve
more money for Iraq and Afghanistan.

-snip-

Bush made his comments to reporters in the Roosevelt
Room a day after the House passed new legislation to
expand children's health coverage. Bush vetoed an
earlier version, and Republicans argued the latest bill
was little changed from the earlier measure. The bill
— approved with less than the two-thirds majority
needed to overturn another veto — now goes to the
Senate. The House vote was 265-142.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071026/ap_on_...



http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/200...
Dismal Legacy of 109th Congress

December 12, 2006

The 109th Congress left office in the early hours of Saturday morning, December 9, having logged fewer days of legislative activity than even the infamous “Do-Nothing Congress” of 1948. Notably absent from the following list of last-minute “accomplishments” is comprehensive immigration reform, a minimum wage increase, and nine out of 11 appropriations bills needed to fully fund federal activity for the 2007 fiscal year.

The failure to pass a working budget for the federal government—the fundamental constitutional task of Congress—highlights the failures of the conservative leadership of the departing Congress. Indeed, the incoming chairmen of the House and Senate appropriations committees, Rep. David Obey (D-WI) and Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV), took a look at the mess left to them and yesterday announced they will hold all spending at 2006 levels after ejecting all special earmarks and begin a more deliberative and open budgeting process next year for the next fiscal year beginning in October 2007.

The Center for American Progress applauds that move, and hopes that the incoming Congress will reconsider or expand upon some of the last minute decisions of the outgoing Do Nothing Congress.

Continuing Resolution

In the lingering minutes of the 109th Congress, the two chambers reached a final agreement on a stop gap funding measure to keep 13 of the 15 departments of the federal government and 63 of its independent agencies from shutting down altogether. This represents a monumental failure of the most central responsibility of the legislative branch—funding the federal government.......


Forum Name General Discussion
Topic subject bu$h* Trades Jabs With Congressional Democrats - NYTimes
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discu...
2142227, bu$h* Trades Jabs With Congressional Democrats - NYTimes
Posted by spanone on Fri Oct-26-07 12:44 PM

~snip~

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 — President Bush chided Congressional Democrats today, accusing them of dithering on his nominee for attorney general and wasting time by passing legislation they know he will veto.

“They have yet to move Judge Michael Mukasey’s nomination to be attorney general out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, even as members complain about the lack of leadership at the Department of Justice,” Mr. Bush said in a White House appearance.

Democrats were quick to respond. “Democrats are working to address the needs Republican Congresses have severely under-funded,” said Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Senate majority leader. “But President Bush — the biggest-spending president in 40 years — threatens to veto our requests based on the laughable claim that he is fiscally responsible.”

Mr. Reid accused the president of ignoring the country’s “critical priorities” at the same time he is seeking another $200 billion “for his mismanaged wars.”

“It is clear that President Bush’s priorities are simply not those of the American people,” Mr. Reid said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/26/washingt...

Discuss (4 comments) | Recommend ( votes) | Remove from Journal | Edit intro

[rodeodance]

3. Here, the Rupug congress last time only did 9 of 11 appropriations and left the mess for new Dem con

Bush scolded congress AGAIN today but 109th "Do Nothing" Congress left with 9 of 11
Posted by rodeodance in General Discussion: Politics
Fri Oct 26th 2007, 12:39 PM
Bush scolded congress AGAIN today but 109th "Do Nothing" Congress left with 9/11 Appropriations bills NOT completed. Below Bush says "October 26 is the latest date in 20 years
that Congress has failed to get a single annual appropriations bill to the president's desk."
The Dem congress had to come in jan 20 and clean up the REPUGS mess! (see below).
Now, why isn't this message getting out by the DEMS----or the press?

Please send to ALL your congresscritters, Harry, Pelosi and the media.







Forum Name Latest Breaking News
Topic subject Bush says he'll veto health bill again
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discu...
3044249, Bush says he'll veto health bill again
Posted by Eugene on Fri Oct-26-07 11:58 AM

Source: Associated Press

Bush says he'll veto health bill again

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent
22 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - President Bush accused Democratic
lawmakers on Friday of wasting time by passing
legislation to expand children's health coverage,
knowing that he would veto it again. At the same time,
he criticized Congress for failing to approve spending
bills to keep the government running.

Bush said Congress had "set a record they should not
be proud of: October 26 is the latest date in 20 years
that Congress has failed to get a single annual
appropriations bill to the president's desk."

He also complained that Congress had failed to pass a
permanent extension of a moratorium on state and local
taxes on Internet access, and that the Senate had not
yet confirmed Michael Mukasey as attorney general.
Further, he chided Congress for failing to approve
more money for Iraq and Afghanistan.

-snip-

Bush made his comments to reporters in the Roosevelt
Room a day after the House passed new legislation to
expand children's health coverage. Bush vetoed an
earlier version, and Republicans argued the latest bill
was little changed from the earlier measure. The bill
— approved with less than the two-thirds majority
needed to overturn another veto — now goes to the
Senate. The House vote was 265-142.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071026/ap_on_...



http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/200...
Dismal Legacy of 109th Congress

December 12, 2006

The 109th Congress left office in the early hours of Saturday morning, December 9, having logged fewer days of legislative activity than even the infamous “Do-Nothing Congress” of 1948. Notably absent from the following list of last-minute “accomplishments” is comprehensive immigration reform, a minimum wage increase, and nine out of 11 appropriations bills needed to fully fund federal activity for the 2007 fiscal year.

The failure to pass a working budget for the federal government—the fundamental constitutional task of Congress—highlights the failures of the conservative leadership of the departing Congress. Indeed, the incoming chairmen of the House and Senate appropriations committees, Rep. David Obey (D-WI) and Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV), took a look at the mess left to them and yesterday announced they will hold all spending at 2006 levels after ejecting all special earmarks and begin a more deliberative and open budgeting process next year for the next fiscal year beginning in October 2007.

The Center for American Progress applauds that move, and hopes that the incoming Congress will reconsider or expand upon some of the last minute decisions of the outgoing Do Nothing Congress.

Continuing Resolution

In the lingering minutes of the 109th Congress, the two chambers reached a final agreement on a stop gap funding measure to keep 13 of the 15 departments of the federal government and 63 of its independent agencies from shutting down altogether. This represents a monumental failure of the most central responsibility of the legislative branch—funding the federal government.......


Forum Name General Discussion
Topic subject bu$h* Trades Jabs With Congressional Democrats - NYTimes
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discu...
2142227, bu$h* Trades Jabs With Congressional Democrats - NYTimes
Posted by spanone on Fri Oct-26-07 12:44 PM

~snip~

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 — President Bush chided Congressional Democrats today, accusing them of dithering on his nominee for attorney general and wasting time by passing legislation they know he will veto.

“They have yet to move Judge Michael Mukasey’s nomination to be attorney general out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, even as members complain about the lack of leadership at the Department of Justice,” Mr. Bush said in a White House appearance.

Democrats were quick to respond. “Democrats are working to address the needs Republican Congresses have severely under-funded,” said Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Senate majority leader. “But President Bush — the biggest-spending president in 40 years — threatens to veto our requests based on the laughable claim that he is fiscally responsible.”

Mr. Reid accused the president of ignoring the country’s “critical priorities” at the same time he is seeking another $200 billion “for his mismanaged wars.”

“It is clear that President Bush’s priorities are simply not those of the American people,” Mr. Reid said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/26/washingt...

Discuss (4 comments) | Recommend ( votes) | Remove from Journal | Edit intro

[NMMNG]

4. Right, Chimpy

Blame it on the Democrats when you had no intention of signing the bill. Nice dodge.

[sakabatou]

5. Sure, blame Congress

when you didn't sign the bill. Fuck you, *.