gonerail
October 27th, 2007, 07:01 PM
:eek: :eek:
U.S. Rep. John R. "Randy" Kuhl, Jr. voted against expanding the State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) for a second time Thursday.
The 265 to 142 vote Thursday in Washington on a revised bill to reauthorize SCHIP was seven votes short of the number needed to override an expected veto by President Bush.
In a telephone press conference earlier Thursday with reporters from the 29th Congressional District, Rep. Kuhl, R-Hanmnondsport, predicted the revised bill would fall short.
Rep. Kuhl said the bill had been introduced by Democrats late Wednesday, with the vote scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
The Southern Tier Republican said he opposed provisions that would allow SCHIP to cover illegal immigrants, any adults, and any children from families earning more than 300 percent of the federal poverty level, about $61,000 for a family of four.
He said he also opposes enrolling children who already have private health insurance in SCHIP and any tax increase on cigarettes to fund expansion of the program.
Like other Republican congressmen who opposed the original bill vetoed by president Bush, Rep. Kuhl refused to change his vote Thursday.
However, Rep. Kuhl is among a number of Republican congressmen who wrote President Bush telling him they support SCHIP with limitations. The current SCHIP program has been extended to Nov. 15.
President Bush's 2008 federal budget proposal does not include enough money to cover the increased costs of the program over the next five years. Rep. Kuhl said administration officials said enough money could be found in the budget to cover existing SCHIP participants without raising the federal tax on cigarettes.
Before he saw the Democratic bill to extend SCHIP Thursday afternoon, Rep. Kuhl predicted it would not meet his criterion for passage.
"My inclination is that they (Democrats) haven't changed anything," he said. "It's pure window dressing."
Rep. Kuhl was targeted by recent television ads blasting his vote against SCHIP and urging constituents to call him urging him to vote to override President Bush's veto.
The congressman's 2006 opponent, Democrat Eric Massa of Corning, issued a concise statement prior to Thursday's vote: "No more dancing around the issue. For heaven's sake Randy, do the right thing for New York's children."
U.S. Rep. John R. "Randy" Kuhl, Jr. voted against expanding the State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) for a second time Thursday.
The 265 to 142 vote Thursday in Washington on a revised bill to reauthorize SCHIP was seven votes short of the number needed to override an expected veto by President Bush.
In a telephone press conference earlier Thursday with reporters from the 29th Congressional District, Rep. Kuhl, R-Hanmnondsport, predicted the revised bill would fall short.
Rep. Kuhl said the bill had been introduced by Democrats late Wednesday, with the vote scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
The Southern Tier Republican said he opposed provisions that would allow SCHIP to cover illegal immigrants, any adults, and any children from families earning more than 300 percent of the federal poverty level, about $61,000 for a family of four.
He said he also opposes enrolling children who already have private health insurance in SCHIP and any tax increase on cigarettes to fund expansion of the program.
Like other Republican congressmen who opposed the original bill vetoed by president Bush, Rep. Kuhl refused to change his vote Thursday.
However, Rep. Kuhl is among a number of Republican congressmen who wrote President Bush telling him they support SCHIP with limitations. The current SCHIP program has been extended to Nov. 15.
President Bush's 2008 federal budget proposal does not include enough money to cover the increased costs of the program over the next five years. Rep. Kuhl said administration officials said enough money could be found in the budget to cover existing SCHIP participants without raising the federal tax on cigarettes.
Before he saw the Democratic bill to extend SCHIP Thursday afternoon, Rep. Kuhl predicted it would not meet his criterion for passage.
"My inclination is that they (Democrats) haven't changed anything," he said. "It's pure window dressing."
Rep. Kuhl was targeted by recent television ads blasting his vote against SCHIP and urging constituents to call him urging him to vote to override President Bush's veto.
The congressman's 2006 opponent, Democrat Eric Massa of Corning, issued a concise statement prior to Thursday's vote: "No more dancing around the issue. For heaven's sake Randy, do the right thing for New York's children."