Bush Veto of Children's Health Care Draws Bipartisan Outrage

Disgusted but not surprised by President Bush's veto Wednesday of a health insurance program for low-income children, union leaders joined a loud chorus of outrage from the bill's supporters – an unusual coalition that brought Republicans and even insurance industry leaders together with Democrats.

Despite bipartisan support for the bill in the House and Senate, analysts say Bush is likely to sustain the veto of the expanded State Children's Health Insurance Program, which provides health care for millions of children whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to buy private insurance.

Bush pledged to veto the bill all along, even after Democrats and Republicans in Congress reached compromises on the amount of aid and other issues the administration raised.

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney noted the cruel irony of Bush's timing, coming the same week the president declared "Child Health Day" – described as a time to "reaffirm our commitment to helping children develop good nutrition habits and active  lifestyles, so that they can grow into healthy and productive adults."