This morning, President Bush stood for bad government, insurance companies and cheaper tobacco and vetoed expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program to cover 10 million kids.
In the words of the White House, the plan was to "veto it quietly," so not to draw attention to such an unpopular act.
The latest poll from ABC and the Washington Post says 72% of Americans support expanding kids' health insurance by increasing tobacco taxes. Republican voters support expansion nearly as much as Democratic voters. The House members whom Bush is counting on to sustain his veto do not want to do it under a white hot spotlight.
Too bad. This veto will not be quiet.
An override vote won't happen for at least a week, but the time to contact your House member is now.
Let them know you expect them to stand with kids and for good government, not with Bush and bad government.
And keep letting them know.
UPDATE: MoveOn.org announces "On Thursday, October 4, local parents and kids will hold a 'Rally For Our Children’s Health' in front of over 200 congressional offices around the nation."
And a new FamiliesUSA video drives the point home.
