Bush, Democrats prepare for SCHIP battle

President Bush chastised Democrats Saturday for seeking to score political points in a battle with the White House over legislation expanding a health insurance program for poor children.

Bush, in his weekly radio address, attacked congressional Democrats as irresponsible for preparing to send him a State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) reauthorization bill that he has threatened to veto. The program is set to expire at the end of the month and the president said Democrats “are risking health coverage for poor children purely to make a political point” by insisting on sending him their version of the legislation.

“Health coverage for these children should not be held hostage while political ads are being made and new polls are being taken,” Bush said.

The presidential address came a day after Democrats touted a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on the SCHIP measure, which provides health insurance to children whose families can’t afford private insurance and who do not qualify for Medicaid.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) pointed out Friday that the reauthorization language has GOP support, including that of conservative Sens. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who are among the authors of the compromise.

“This legislation will get the Children’s Health Insurance Program back on track and reclaim precious resources for low-income kids,” Grassley said Friday regarding the deal that congressional negotiators had reached. “It breaks the legislative impasse and should have strong support from both Democrats and Republicans.”

Hatch said he was sympathetic to some of the president’s concerns that SCHIP not become a “one-size fits all” government program. However, he described the deal as a “true compromise” between Democrats and Republicans in both chambers and expressed the hope that the president would work with Congress.

Votes on the legislation are expected in both chambers next week. An earlier Senate bill was approved with a veto-proof 68 votes, but it is expected to be more difficult for legislation to clear the House with enough votes to override a veto.

Bush objects to the bill because he says it would expand government-backed health insurance to families well above the poverty line. He argues the bill is too costly and that it would move some families who do not have private insurance into “government-run” health care.

Supporters of the bill say it would ensure health insurance for 10 million children in need.