As you may have heard the House passed the extension and Expansion of the State Chidren's Health Insurance Progam (S-CHIP) by a large margin. But not by a large enough margin to override a threatened Presidential veto. The program in question would spend and additional $35 billion over the next five years - less than three months of the cost of the Iraq fiasco - and cover millions of additional children. So what should the Democrats do? Here's an excellent suggestion:
"Send the S-CHIP expansion to a vote every three months, along with campaign advertisements accusing Republicans of abandoning children. That way, pressure would mount on Bush to sign the bill or the House Republicans to override the veto."
From some left wing blogger? No, from Sen Charles Grassley (R-IA) who helped craft that compromise that will see this bill easily pass the Senate with a veto-proof majority. I'd only add that I'd do the same with the Webb Amendment that requires the Pentagon to provide an equal amount of down time at home for the troops that are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is supported by all veterans groups, military families and several officer's associations that recognize the damage being done to the service. Again run ads asking WHO really supports the troops?
It is not often that good policy and good politics intersect but here is one case where they clearly do. It is long past time for the Dems to go on the offensive!
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