House Passes Revised Bill, but Bush Veto is Still Likely

Oct 26, 06:42 AM

Current Headlines: By DAVID ESPO

By David Espo

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON

In a deepening conflict with the White House, Democrats pushed a revised children's health bill through the House on Thursday but lacked 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 more 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 that make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to buy 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.

The 265 votes cast for the measure was seven shy of the two- thirds majority needed to override a veto. In addition, 14 Republicans who voted to sustain Bush's original veto were absent.

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, and with several lawmakers away from the Capitol because of wildfires that have caused deaths and widespread destruction in California.

In an interview, Rep. Thelma Drake, R-2nd District, said she had told Hoyer in a closed-door meeting that it appeared Democrats would not postpone the vote "because the ads had already been bought. That was the only thing that made sense to me."

She added that she reminded Hoyer that Democrats delayed an override vote on Bush's earlier veto for two weeks while she and other Republicans were attacked in television commercials.

In response, Hoyer's spokeswoman, Stacey Bernards, said: "That accusation is completely ridiculous and more evidence of some Republicans looking for any excuse to vote against this bipartisan bill."

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