This Veto Will Not Be Quiet

This morning, President Bush stood for bad government [1], insurance companies [2] and cheaper tobacco [3] and vetoed expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program [4] to cover 10 million kids.

In the words of the White House, the plan was to "veto it quietly," [5] so not to draw attention to such an unpopular act.

The latest poll from ABC and the Washington Post says 72% of Americans support expanding kids' health insurance [6] by increasing tobacco taxes. Republican voters support expansion [7] nearly as much as Democratic voters. The House members whom Bush is counting on to sustain his veto do not want to do it under a white hot spotlight.

Too bad. This veto will not be quiet. [8]

An override vote [9] won't happen for at least a week, but the time to contact your House member [10] is now.

Let them know [10] you expect them to stand with kids and for good government, not with Bush and bad government.

And keep letting them know.

UPDATE: MoveOn.org announces [11] "On Thursday, October 4, local parents and kids will hold a 'Rally For Our Children’s Health' in front of over 200 congressional offices around the nation."

And a new FamiliesUSA [12] video drives the point home.