Local Reaction to Defeat of SCHIP Override, Peace's Vote Against It

In the U.S. House, the attempt to override Bush's veto of the SCHIP bill was 13 votes short of the needed two-thirds majority. The vote was 273-156. None of the 151 Republicans who voted “no” on Sept. 25 switched sides today. Instead, six Democrats switched from “no” to “yes.” Rep. Steve Pearce (R, NM-02), who has announced he's running for U.S. Senate, voted no. Here are some of the statements from New Mexico politicos in response to today's vote:

Don Wiviott, Democratic Candidate for U.S. Senate:
"Steve Pearce faced a choice before today’s vote: New Mexico's children or President Bush. Once again, he chose President Bush to the detriment of our state. He has become a reliable rubberstamp for this White House, instead of a champion for the people he is supposed to represent.

"No matter what excuses the Congressman tries to make for his vote, he can't change the facts. With one vote, he has denied millions of children - thousands of them in New Mexico - an opportunity to receive the health care they need and deserve. Even in the face of such obstruction, it is my hope that the Democratic leadership in Congress will continue to reach across the aisle for the sake of those who need health care the most. I don’t believe this should be about politics. It is about doing what is right, and standing up for New Mexico values.”

Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM):
"Millions of American children lack health insurance. In our state, more than 100,000 young people are uninsured. I am extremely disappointed that the president vetoed this bill, and that the House of Representatives fell just shy of an override. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which crafted the Senate version of the bill, I will continue pressing for enactment of strong SCHIP legislation that extends health care coverage to our nation's most vulnerable citizens."

Rep. Tom Udall (D, NM-03):
"This is a sad day for millions of working American families whose children face losing their health care because President Bush continues to put politics ahead of their welfare. American taxpayers provide Congress and the president the best health care benefits in case we get sick, yet this president refuses to extend the most basic coverage for children who go without. By continuing to fuel this battle over S-CHIP legislation that a clear, bipartisan majority of the Congress and the American people support, the president has shown just how far removed his priorities are."

"What makes this discussion particularly frustrating is the shocking amount of misinformation that has been spread by opponents of S-CHIP. S-CHIP is not government-run health care; it does not provide health care for wealthy families; and, it does not give benefits to illegal immigrants. Members of Congress faced a choice between helping children and not helping children. S-CHIP opponents have spread misinformation because they don't want to talk about this choice."

Brian S. Colón, Chairman, Democratic Party of NM:
"With today's unconscionable vote, Steve Pearce helped prevent 27,900 uninsured New Mexican children, and 3.8 million children nationwide, from getting health insurance - all in the name of attempting to make an extreme ideological statement.

"However, the message that the people of New Mexico heard loud and clear today is that Steve Pearce lacks the leadership to represent them in the U.S. Senate. Once again, Pearce confirmed that he values marching in lock-step with a failed President more than the health of New Mexico's children.

"Steve Pearce and President Bush are happy to spend half-a-trillion dollars on their mismanaged War in Iraq that has no end in sight, yet they lack the compassion and wisdom to vote to ensure that millions of poor children can see a doctor if they are sick, without adding a dime to Bush's record deficits.

"This cruel action ignores the wishes of 43 of our nation's governors, as well as bipartisan majorities in Congress, and 8 in 10 Americans. This vote therefore firmly places Steve Pearce in the ideological extreme of our state, and confirms that his values are vastly different from the mainstream of the people of New Mexico."

Pulling Out All the Stops: Rep. Pete Stark (D, CA-13):
The harshest criticism of Bush's veto came before the vote, on the House floor, by California's Congressman Pete Stark:

"First of all, I'm just amazed they can't figure out, the Republicans are worried we can't pay for insuring an additional 10 million children.  They sure don't care about finding $200 billion to fight the illegal war in Iraq.  Where ya gonna get that money?  You going to tell us lies like you're telling us today?  Is that how you're going to fund the war? You don't have money to fund the war or children. But you're going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the President's amusement.  This bill would provide healthcare for 10 million children and unlike the President's own kids, these children can't see a doctor or receive necessary care.
[...]
"But President Bush's statements about children's health shouldn't be taken any more seriously than his lies about the war in Iraq.  The truth is that Bush just likes to blow things up.  In Iraq, in the United States and in Congress."