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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Wednesday called on Republicans to join Democrats to override President Bush’s veto of legislation to renew the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). “We’re still in the fight,” said Pelosi, who was joined by a family with a young daughter who has benefited from the SCHIP program. “The president is alone.” Dara and Bo Wilkerson, and their daughter, Bethany, of Tampa, Fla., joined Pelosi in her conference room Wednesday morning. Bethany was born with several holes in her heart and had surgery when she was 6 months old. The family earns $34,000 per year; Bethany is covered under Florida’s KidCare program. The vote to override Bush’s veto is scheduled to take place on Thursday. Democrats will have an additional vote because Rep.-elect Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.) will be sworn in that day. Democrats must convince 25 more lawmakers to defy President Bush. While most of the eight Democrats who opposed the bill have said they will vote to override, it is unclear how many Republicans will defect. Pelosi said her goal in the hours before the vote is to “dispel myths and misconceptions” about the SCHIP legislation, which calls for $35 billion in new spending over five years to cover 10 million children. The program currently covers 6.6 million children. Asked what would happen if the House sustained the veto, Pelosi said, “When somebody is in a fight, you don’t ask them what will happen if they don’t win. We are still in this fight.” |
