Spring Break
Obama signs bill extending kids' health insurance
Associated Press
Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: News
|
It was a victory for Obama a day after his nominee to shepherd his broad health care agenda stepped aside amid tax problems.
Obama used an ebullient East Room signing ceremony to continue his push for his plan that would provide universal health insurance, even as he spent much of the previous day admitting he "screwed up" in naming former Sen. Tom Daschle to spearhead the health care overhaul. He wrapped the signing event in another pitch for his separate $819 billion economic plan that now is under consideration in the Senate and faces Republican opposition.
"As I think everybody here will agree, this is only the first step," Obama said of the bill that reauthorizes the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
"Because the way I see it, providing coverage to 11 million children through CHIP is a down payment on my commitment to cover
every single American," he said to applause before turning to the economic recovery bill.
"It won't be easy; It won't happen all at once," Obama said. "But this bill that I'm about to sign, that wasn't easy either."
Obama and his advisers see the economic crisis as his window to push through many of his campaign pledges. Renewable energy, financial regulation and even rural Internet access all have been tied to repairing the nation's fractured economy. In the process, Obama has exposed his plan to criticism and questions that threaten to jettison the first major legislation his team has assembled.
"I refuse to accept that millions of our children fail to reach their full potential because we fail to meet their basic needs. In a decent society, there are certain obligations that are not subject to trade-offs or negotiations, and health care for our children is one of those obligations," Obama said, signaling he was readying for a fight.
Obama has faced a difficult week, his second full one in office. Daschle, the former Senate Democratic leader, withdrew his nomination as secretary of health and human services after acknowledging he failed to pay taxes on a car and driver provided by a Democratic fundraiser. His departure also left in the president's team a large gap for someone to usher through sweeping reform Obama has promised.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Peace Love
posted 2/05/09 @ 7:20 AM MST
Here we go again.
Another worthless article filled with regurgitated crap telling us what others think about the bill, instead of telling us what is actually in the bill. (Continued…)
Post a Comment