Three GOP Senators Tell Bush To Back Off Threatened Veto Of SCHIP

I reported on July 8 and then again on July 11 about the reauthorization of the STATE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (SCHIP) currently is working it's way through Congress. In my July 11 post I noted that the belief tankers at the Heritage Foundation oppose the SCHIP program as a gateway to "socialized medicine." Beltway conservatives have gone so far as to suggest that the President will veto any bill that doesn't roll the program back to something they approve. CQ.com reports that members of the Senate Finance Committee confirm that administration officials have also threatened a veto. SCHIP is the darling of any number of conservative Republican governors. Apparently veto talk sent shock waves through their ranks.

According to CQ.com reporter Alex Wayne the veto threat has lead three key Republican Senators Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, Orrin G. Hatch of Utah and Pat Roberts of Kansas to push back in a letter sent to the administration on Wednesday

“What the administration needs to understand is that if a bipartisan plan isn’t achieved, then the Democratic-controlled Congress will, at the very least, extend the current program with all the terrible policy provisions that have evolved, such as waivers for childless adults and coverage for higher-income kids.”

Fox News says Bush's people now deny that they have ever said the President will veto the reauthorization bill although he reserves the right to veto in the event the program is greatly expanded.

In a battle between ideology and political reality, political reality wins again.

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Orrin Hatch Slips A Cog

We call this blog Watching Those We Chose. Well some of you chose Orrin Hatch. I guess he is worth watching too.

Last Sunday Senator Hatch appeared on Meet the Press and made the following comment about Carol Lam.

Take Carol Lam, for instance. Carol Lam was raised on your program, Tim, by Schumer. Carol Lam, it’s amazing to me she wasn’t fired earlier because for three years members of the Congress had complained that there had been all kinds of border patrol capture of these people but hardly any prosecutions. She was a former law professor, no prosecutorial experience, and the former campaign manager in Southern California for Clinton, and they’re trying to say that this administration appoints people politically? Of course they do. That’s what these positions are.

Strong words. Small problem--Carol Lam was never a law professor. Second small problem--Carol Lam worked for 18 years as an assistant US Attorney in California before being appointed by George Bush. Third small problem, she was never a campaign manager for anybody let alone Bill Clinton. In short he made her background up out of whole cloth. Jesus, she was one of the people he shepherded through the confirmation process. Rachel Maddow called him on his little reality based problem.

Here is how the Senator replied.

In short he said "my statement was accurate, but my facts were wrong." Or "I told the truth except for when I was lying."

I have to ask those who are watching our representatives from Utah, what are you guys smoking out there? I thought Mormons like Hatch didn't do anything stronger than Coca-Cola. This guy is obviously doing something heavier. I guess he has been Republican Senator so long he thinks he can just make stuff up and nobody will notice.

In fairness he claims to have confused Carol Lam with her predecessor Alan Bersin. They look so much alike.
Alan Bersin Carol Lam

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