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- Skidmore proposes statewide protections for transgender people as Tampa enacts rule locally
- Get your Bill McCollum autograph today! GOP reigns supreme on eBay (updated)
- Unemployment in Florida reaches 11.2 percent; debate over federal aid continues
- Rubio within 10 points of Crist? So says Daily Kos poll
- Sink’s CFO office chief to move to campaign
- AG race could be a contest of dog lovers
- Meek tries to pin down Crist on unemployment compensation aid
- Rubio backer collects $$ from Crist buddies
- GOP “emergency meeting” tomorrow; Okaloosa party votes against Greer
- Dockery snags endorsement from former GOP chairman Tom Slade
- Erin Isaac’s resignation letter
- Aronberg gets painters’ union endorsement
- AARP: Poll shows members support health care reform
- New “fair and balanced” Tally news service coming?
- Today’s number: 35, average age for high blood pressure in military
President Bush’s veto this morning of a bill to renew and expand a children’s health care program could lead to pressure on Tampa’s freshman Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor to switch her vote yet again on the measure.
Castor initially voted for the House version of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bill, but then voted against the final version negotiated with the Senate. She said the final version wouldn’t serve as many children as the version she favored, and relied too heavily on cigar taxes—she had been stung by criticism over the taxes, a problem in her district.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave Castor and seven other Democrats a pass to vote “no” as the bill passed 265 to 159, but now Pelosi is not ruling out an override attempt. She’s likely to need those eight votes, plus some Republican switchers, to get the needed two-thirds vote—290 of the 435 House members.
In a statement this morning, Pelosi cited the bill’s “strong bipartisan consensus” and “so much potential for good,” and said, “We remain committed to making SCHIP into law—with or without the President’s support.”
Castor had no immediate comment on her plans, and House Democratic leaders have decided to put off an override vote until October 17.
White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said Bush is open to negotiating a deal with congressional Democrats, but said the administration has no reason to doubt House Minority Whip Roy Blunt’s confidence that Pelosi can’t get her 290 and the House will sustain the veto.
As there are those of you that do not care about the thousands of people affected all over the United States, it would make sense to me that you would agree on this tax. Thus adding to the amount of children already on this plan due to their parents being unemployed! This industry is primarily made up of mom & pop businesses. That will loose everything!To offer insurance to anyone over legal age makes no sense. Giving this insurance to people up to the age of 25, give me a break. The wording on this tax is crazy! Government needs to find a bigger industry to attack & leave the mom & pop’s alone!
In Tampa, it is my understanding that just over a thousand people are employed directly in the cigar industry. Why not vote to override the veto to preserve or expand health care for millions of kids now and address any job cuts next year with funding for retraining if actual loses do result? At most, we could expect job reductions in the hundreds. $3 or $4 million from the new revenues should be adequate for retraining.
A look at Federal Election Commission reports reveals that Kathy Castor received thousands of dollars from people affiliated with the cigar industry. As constituents of hers, we must remind her that her obligation is to work for the overall good of society, not a few special interests that helped fund her campaign.
Bush’s veto is appalling but not surprising. He reveals again his hard boiled radical conviction in free market solutions to everything, even though one need look no further than New Orleans to see how impractical and even cruel this extremist dogma is. The bottom line is this: While all Americans know the many obvious benefits of free enterprise, THERE IS NO LEGITIMATE BUSINESS PROFIT TO BE MADE IN PROVIDING CARE FOR POOR KIDS. Those who claim otherwise should be exposed as the misguided and morally lacking profiteers they are.
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Posted by RON HEAVERN, north vernon in on 10/27 at 08:23 PM
CHILD WELFAIR IS VERY EMPORTANT. THERE SHOULD BE SOME WAY TO FIND THE FUNDS WITHOUT KILLING THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG.
I AM 68 YEARS OLD I DRAW A SMALL SS CHECK, I ENJOY A FEW CIGARS A WEEK 4-5 THEY COST ABOUT $10-$15.00. IF THE TAXES GO INTO EFFECT MY CIGARS WILL COST FROM $110 - $160.00. ($450- $700.00 per mo) LETS GET REAL
THIS IS THE MOST UNFAIR TAX IN U.S. HISTORY. BESIDES THE CIGAR TAX WOULD BE LESS THAN 1/2% OF TOTAL. THAT WOULD KILL THE LOW END CIGAR INDUSTRY.
1 CENT MORE TAX ON A CASE OF BEER (24 bottles) WOULD MAKE 16% I DO NOT SUPPOSE THE BREWERYS WOULD STAND FOR THAT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW THINGS I AGREE WITH BUSH ON.