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| Bush wields vetoes to block Democra |
| ''The president's stubbornness is like an anchor around the Republican Party,'' said Rep. Al Wynn, a Democrat.
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| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
, 24-September-2007
2:44:41 AM |
| President George W Bush, who did not veto a bill for nearly six years, is now embracing the power to constrain the Democratic-controlled Congress even as his popularity remains low.
The strategy has blocked Congress from forcing troop drawdowns in Iraq and given the Republican president substantial leverage on children's health policies, federal spending and other issues.
But some say it carries a big political risk. By thwarting congressional efforts to wind down the war and redirect spending to popular domestic programs, Bush could help Democrats portray Republicans as out of step with voters in the 2008 presidential and congressional elections.
''The president's stubbornness is like an anchor around the Republican Party,'' said Rep. Al Wynn, a Democrat.
The White House says Bush himself has issued 39 veto threats since Democrats took over the House and Senate in January. Top presidential aides have hinted at possible vetoes of several other bills.
Bush last week renewed his pledge to veto Congress' proposed expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, set to expire September 30.
House and Senate negotiators want to add $35 billion over five years to the program. That would insure about 4 million more children from modest-income households.
Bush says the plan is too costly and would cover families that can afford private insurance.
But some congressional Republicans disagree, and see the veto threat as obstinance that could threaten their party.
''I'm very, very disappointed,'' said Republican Sen. Gordon Smith, who faces a tough re-election fight next year.
Democrats see such veto threats as a boon to their 2008 hopes.
Bush is trying to establish that he's a fiscal conservative after overseeing a sharp rise in the deficit, said Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat.
''I think he has picked the wrong issues,'' Durbin said. ''If he wants to fight over children's health insurance, I'm sorry but we're ready.''
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