Misleading Reporting on "Children's Health Bill"

This reminds me of back in the mid-90's, when spending on the school lunch program went up only 5% instead of the 7% the Democrats wanted, and it was called a "cut" and Republicans were accused of starving school kids.

Here we go again with the "children's health bill," where the president want to limit the increase to $5 billion, while the Democrats and some Republicans want to gouge smokers with another tax increase and jack the costs up to another $35 billion.

The propaganda has already started, with misleading headlines like this:

Bush vetoes bill on children's health care

WASHINGTON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday vetoed a measure to expand a popular children's health care program, launching the first in a series of major battles with Democrats over domestic spending.

The legislation would have provided an extra $35 billion over five years for the health program, which is administered by the states. Taxes on tobacco products would have been raised to pay for the increase.

The health bill enjoyed bipartisan support. The veto is likely to anger a number in Bush's own Republican Party who fear the issue will cost them votes in the congressional and presidential elections.

Supporters of the bill said it would have helped provide health coverage for some 10 million children.

Bush contended the increase would have expanded the program beyond its original intent of covering low-income children and taken a step toward government-controlled health care.

He has proposed a much smaller increase of $5 billion in the children's health program.

No doubt we'll see an endless stream of reports claiming Bush doesn't care about the health of children.