House Passes Compromise Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization, But It Is Not Ironclad

The vote was 265-159 (including 45 Republicans among the "yeas"). However, the House needs 287 "yeas" to override President Bush's promised veto, so it looks like those who want to keep poor and working-class children from getting adequate health care win again.

Our Blue Dog Congressman Jim Cooper pulled a u-turn and voted for SCHIP today (he voted against the original House version). Beleaguered West Tennessee Republican Marsha Blackburn may not know the name of soldiers from her district who die in battle, but she does know how to be the Bush Administration's handmaiden to Congress: she voted with the 159 against the smallest and most vulnerable in our society.