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GOP solidarity softens in Congress
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| Contributor | The Sunset Provision |
| Last Edited | The Sunset Provision Sep 28, 2007 02:26pm |
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| Category | News |
| Media | Website - Yahoo News |
| News Date | Friday, September 28, 2007 08:25:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | The nearly airtight solidarity that Republicans in Congress have shown President Bush on the Iraq war is developing leaks when it comes to domestic issues.
Democrats believe those cracks, illustrated by votes this week on health care and hate crimes, will grow to include Iraq as the 2008 elections near.
Members of both parties were stunned when 45 House Republicans voted this week for a children's health insurance plan that Bush strenuously opposes and vows to veto.
On Thursday, an even larger percentage of Senate Republicans voted for the same bill. That same day, GOP senators provided crucial votes to clear the way for passage of a hate-crimes bill that Bush also promises to veto.
Clear majorities of House and Senate Republicans still back Bush on most major issues, and they appear confident the House will sustain his expected veto on the children's health bill — even if the Senate will not. Many Republicans also vow to keep backing Bush's handling of the war, despite its unpopularity.
Still, some were struck by the week's events, and speculated on what they might portend.
"As we get closer to the election, I think you're going to see some seismic shifts in our conference," said Rep. Ray LaHood, an Illinois Republican who urged colleagues to support the State Children's Health Insurance Program expansion that Bush opposes.
When 45 House Republicans did so on Tuesday, he said in an interview, "I was shocked. I thought it would be 30."
The House voted to approve the proposed $35 billion expansion of SCHIP, 265 to 159. The Senate approved the bill 67-29, with 18 Republicans voting for it. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Bush told her in a phone conversation Friday he still intends to veto it.
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