La. Delegation Divided on Children’s Health Program

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Members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation should vote to override President Bush’s veto of a bill that would have cleared the way for the state to add 10,000 children to its government-funded health insurance program, Gov. Kathleen Blanco said earlier this week.

Bush on Wednesday morning vetoed the bill, which would have expanded greatly the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Pushed hard by Democrats, the bill also was supported by a sizable number of Republicans. But whether supporters could muster the support needed to override was in question.

“I am extremely disappointed President Bush has decided to turn his back on the children of Louisiana and our country. Health insurance is fast becoming a luxury when it should be a basic right,” Blanco, a Democrat, said in a statement.

The veto divided the Louisiana delegation, not always along party lines. Republican Sen. David Vitter, who voted against the bill, issued a statement applauding the veto. He said the bill was too dramatic an expansion and would push people away from private insurance.

But Vitter’s fellow Republican, Rep. Bobby Jindal, said he would vote to override.

“We are monitoring when the vote will be held, but we are planning to be there,” Jindal spokesman Trey Williams said in an e-mail Wednesday when asked if Jindal, who is running for governor, would leave the campaign trail to cast an override vote.

The governor’s election is Oct. 20.