WASHINGTON — In a deepening conflict with the White House, Democrats pushed a revised children’s health bill through the House on Thursday but likely lack the votes to overcome a threatened second straight veto by President Bush.
The vote was 265-142 on a bill so politically charged that one Republican bluntly accused Democrats of timing the events to dovetail with attack ads planned by organizations supporting the legislation.
“They won’t take yes for an answer,” retorted Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, as Democrats vehemently denied the charge. He said the legislation included changes demanded by GOP critics of the earlier vetoed bill, including one to prevent illegal immigrants from gaining benefits.
The measure now goes to the Senate.
Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the majority leader, told reporters additional changes are possible before it heads to the White House. At the same time, he added, “I don’t want to be strung along” by Republicans merely feigning an interest in bipartisan compromise.
The legislation is designed chiefly to provide coverage for children whose families make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to purchase private insurance.
In general, supporters said it would extend coverage to children of families making up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $62,000 for a family of four.
At that level, congressional officials said, it would cover about 4 million children who now go without, raising the total for the program overall to 10 million kids. The $35 billion cost over five years would be covered by an increase in the tobacco tax of 61 cents a pack.
The vote unfolded one week after the House failed to override Bush’s earlier veto, and indicated that the changes Democrats had made failed to attract much, if any, additional support.
The 265 votes cast for the measure were seven shy of the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.
Public opinion polls show widespread support for the issue.
The children’s health measure has emerged as one of the most contentious issues of the year, temporarily supplanting last winter and spring’s fierce debate over the Iraq war.
“There may be some particular loyalty to the president,” Rep. Charles Rangel, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said in remarks aimed at Republican opponents of the legislation. “But you have to remember than when these voters come to you, the president’s veto message will not be stapled to you and you will have to be able to explain your vote.”
“This bill is not going to become law,” countered Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, the Republican leader. “If you’re tired of the political games, if you’re tired of Congress’ approval rating being at these ridiculous levels, let’s all just vote no.”
Democrats, sensing a political advantage, were having none of that.
“God willing, President Bush will sign this bill,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said. The White House issued a statement saying he would not.
The bill “continues to move children from private health insurance to government programs; provides insufficient safeguards to assure that funds will not be spent on ineligible individuals; and, remarkably, actually costs more than the earlier bill, not withstanding supposed improvements in policy,” it said.
Even some Republican supporters of the measure bristled at the Democratic decision to hold the vote less than 24 hours after unveiling the revised measure.
“Bringing the bill up today, with no time to even read it, is either a terrible mistake or an intentional partisan maneuver,” said Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., who supported the vetoed bill.
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