Children's Health Insurance bill heads for Obama's desk

Last Friday, the Senate passed their version of the State Children's Health Insurance Program with a 66-32 majority. The bill went to conference committee to work out differences between the House and Senate versions; the final bill went back to the House today, where it passed by about the same number as January, 290-135, with 40 Republicans crossing party lines to support the bill, and 2 Democrats joining the majority of Republicans in opposition.

The Thomas site doesn't have the roll call information posted yet, but we're assuming that the same people voted the same as before. We know Pete Sessions voted against SCHIP again because he spoke out against it in this quote, which appeared in Associated Press:

"The Democrats continue to push their government-run health care agenda — universal coverage as they call it," said Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas.

If I was in Congress, I'd be careful about mocking "government-run health care," since members of Congress get a nice health care package--paid for by us, the taxpayer. Consumers are starting to wake up and say, "Why can't I get the same coverage as my representative?" In 2003, ABC did a phone poll on health care and found that a 2-to-1 majority of Americans favor some form of universal coverage over our current employer-based health care system. I'm guessing the numbers would be even higher today, considering the number of layoffs we've seen this year.

Pete Sessions votes against SCHIP

In September of 2007, Pete Sessions voted against SCHIP; yesterday, he did so again, voting against the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 along with 138 other Republicans. The bill passed 289-139, with 40 Republicans crossing over to vote with Democrats on the measure, and 2 Democrats voting against. Five Democrats and one Republican cast no vote.

For information on the bill, See HR 2; roll number information available at this link: Roll No. 16.

Pete Sessions votes "no" to Native Hawaiians, Children's Health

Pete Sessions voted "no" to the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Acts, and "no" to reauthorization of SCHIP. From Congress.Org:

Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act
Vote Passed (261-153, 18 Not Voting)
The House passed H.R. 505, to express the policy of the United States regarding the United States relationship with Native Hawaiians and to provide a process for the recognition by the United States of the Native Hawaiian governing entity, by a yea-and-nay vote of 261 yeas to 153 nays, Roll No. 1000. Pete Sessions voted "no."

Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act
Vote Passed (265-142, 26 Not Voting)
A new bill to reauthorize and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program was passed by the House, a week after the chamber failed to override President Bush’s veto of the previous version of the bill. See H.R. 3963, "to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to extend and improve the Children's Health Insurance Program." See Roll No. 1009. Pete Sessions voted "no."

Pete Sessions votes "no" to Railroad Safety, Poor Kids

Once again, Pete Sessions was among a slim minority of House members who voted against the Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act (H.R. 2095), to prevent railroad fatalities, injuries, and hazardous materials releases and to authorize the Federal Railroad Safety Administration. The bill passed 377-38, with 16 not voting (See Roll Call 980).

Pete Sessions also helped Bush sustain his veto of the S-CHIP bill, voting against expanding the program to cover more low-income kids (See H.R. 976, Roll Call 982). The House was short 13 votes necessary to override Bush's veto.

Pete Sessions votes "no" to SCHIP

As the Washington Post put it, Pete Sessions is following Bush over a cliff with his staunch opposition to SCHIP. Not only did he vote "no," but called the move "cynical":

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Tex.) argued that "rather than taking the opportunity to cover the children that cannot obtain coverage through Medicaid or the private marketplace, this bill uses these children as pawns in their cynical attempt to make millions of Americans completely reliant upon the government for their health-care needs."

Coming from Pete Sessions, this is rank hypocrisy. In 2006, Pete Sessions sponsored the Family Opportunity Act, which was passed into law, and allows families with a Down's Syndrome child to buy into Medicaid if their household income is up to 300% of federal poverty level.

According to the 2007 Federal Poverty Guideline, poverty level for a family of 4 is $20,650. Three-hundred percent times $20,650 is $61,950. While Mr. Sessions would not personally benefit from the Family Opportunity Act, his own son has Down's Syndrome, so this is a special interest of his. Can he only relate to poor families if they have a child like his? What about other low income families trying to make ends meet? Doesn't he care about them?

Vote information is as follows: HR 976, "An act to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to extend and improve the Children's Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes." Passed 265-159, with 1 voting Present and 8 not voting