House Fails to Override Bush Veto of Child Insurnace Bill

Bush vetoed a proposed five-year expansion and $35 billion spending increase in children's health care. This was the fourth veto in Bush's career. He has proposed increasing the program by a minimal $5 billion. The SCHIP program currently covers 6 million children and this vetoed bill would have expanded the coverage to 10 million lower and middle-class children.

The additional expense was to be covered by an increase in cigarette tax, $.61 per pack. President Bush could not possibly understand the true needs of these families. The war in Iraq doesn't mean anything to the middle class family who cannot afford to take their child to the doctor when they are ill.

The bill fell 13 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed for an override, 273 to 156, with 44 Republicans voting for the override. Democrats have made it clear that they will not rest until they pass this bill.

Does public opinion matter? Seemingly not in this instance.

"A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released Wednesday found strong support for Democrats' efforts to override the veto. The poll found 61 percent of Americans believe Congress should overrule Bush, while 35 percent believe the veto should be sustained.
Pollsters interviewed 1,212 people from Friday through Sunday. The survey has a sampling error of 3 percentage points."

I am saddened by President Bush's lack of compassion and sypathy for the working class and for the lack of care and concern for our children, our future.

This article can be viewed at: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/18/schip/index.html

Does the US Torture Terrorists?

According to an article on CNN.com titled, "Debate Rages Over Secret Justice Memo on Torture" Bush went beyond the realms of US policy in order to gain information from terrorists. In December 2004 a memo was publicly announced that rejected the use of torture in interrogations. Yet, the New York Times has reported that a secret Justice Department opinion in 2005 allowed the torture of terror detainees. The article goes on to say that the 2005 memo amounted to "an expansive endorsement of the harshest interrogation techniques ever used by the CIA." The CIA responds with "The CIA does not comment on specific interrogation methods."

It seems that the entire article is a circle of deception and hidden truths. The White House press secretary Dana Perino confirms the existence of the 2005 undisclosed memo, but then says "U.S. policy is not to torture--and we do not." Well, if Dana Perino says so we should believe it? It seems as if everyone is trying to make up for the fact that the Bush administration has done what they deemed necessary with no regard for human rights. There have been reports of torturous activities such as shaving off facial hair, freezing temperatures and simulated drowning.

I cannot say that our country should not do everything in its power to protect our nation and our citizens, but the truth cannot be denied. It makes you wonder if such blatant disregard of humanity could bleed into our U.S. justice system. I don't believe that George W. Bush is over the rights outlined in the Geneva Conventions. I feel safe that 2008 brings a much needed light at the end of a dark and seemingly torturous tunnel.

This article can be viewed at: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/04/justice.torture.memos/index.html

Dollar Signs with Obama

Senator Barack Obama is proposing to lower taxes for the lower and middle classes. Senator Obama announced a tax relief plan that would cut $80 billion this week. By cracking down on the $1 trillion in corporate tax loopholes, international tax havens and increasing the dividend-and-capital-gains tax for the wealthy, it would offset the cost of income tax cut of $500 per person. He is paying special attention to the seven million senior citizens making less than $50,000 per year. Approximately $150 million American citizens will receive this tax relief. Senator Obama points out that this $500 tax cut would essentially eliminate all income taxes for 10 million working Americans, for the amount of the cut is greater than their income tax bill.

The second part of Senator Obama's tax relief plan is to simplify the filing process for a majority of Americans. Since the IRS already collects wage and bank account information this could be a simple verification process. This would save on time and additional expenses spent on a tax preparer.

This article is worth reading because it would directly affect everyone of us. I don't know anyone who enjoys tax season and the difficult process that is involved with it. Senator Obama seems to have the American public's best interests in mind. Besides, we could all use a little tax relief!

This article can be viewed at http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/18/obama.taxplan/index.html