Is there any way of tying together Schip with Iraq spending?

[Evoman]

I'm not too familiar with the American system, but I was wondering why they can't make amendments to the Iraq spending bills that includes giving money to program like Schips. That way, if the president wants his blood money, he has got to give up something to get it.

[Waya]

1. Don't see no reason why they couldn't attach.....

.........the SCHIP Bill to the Appropiations Bill for Iraq.....

[Evoman]

2. That's what I'm saying. The chimp should have to sacrifice more for his money.

[Clark2008]

6. I'd go for that if the tax was on everyone. Yes.

[Robbien]

3. Sure, the Dems could add it to a defense bill

But the current gaggle of Dems seldom mess around with defense spending. They just present for a vote, with almost no amendments, anything Bush requests.

[Kajsa]

4. This is a good idea.

n/t

[Clark2008]

5. Not unless you can prove that smokers are the only people

funding the Iraqi War, no.

Look, I'm all for the S-CHIP program and want it expanded, but it was a bad bill. It essentially taxed the most dwindling social group in the nation - one that is already overly taxed.

Expand the S-CHIP program with a tax on high fructose corn syrup or via income tax - make it something lucrative.

[depakid]

7. Whinging smokers

Have a look at taxes on tobbacco products abroad- say, Canada, Britain or Australia.

A bit higher than in the USA. LOL.

And yet, like typical spoiled Americans with no conception of how things are in other countries, they whine and complain about being taxed, no matter what might be gained in return.

[Blue Meany]

8. That would would be a hard choice for Republicans

in Congress. They would have to choose who they hated more: American kids or American troops and Iraqis. It could go either way.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

9. healthcare for 800,000 American children = 1 week in Iraq

force the President's hand

[Evoman]

10. Good point of comparison if the two were together on one bill.

Not only that...if its something bush REALLY wants (like money for blackwater), you don't have to tax smokers...hell, maybe you could take it out of the money that would have gone for Iraq.

Look at it this way...if your going to spend money you don't have, you might as well spend it on something good.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

11. If it was put to the people in simple terms?

I think there is too much vagueness regarding the bills. If someone got up there and spelled it out.

- Building bridges in Afghanistan = bridges falling down and killing people in the US
- 1 week in Iraq would treat 800,000 children

we need to be short and snappy