U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge will vote for the SCHIP expansion.
The Lillington Democrat was one of five House Democrats – another was U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre of Lumberton – who voted against against the $35 billion expansion of the program, Barb Barrett reports.
He and McIntyre both opposed the 61-cent tax increase on cigarettes, saying it would hurt North Carolina smokers, the tobacco industry and the state economy.
Both said last week they would try to sustain President Bush's veto.
McIntyre announced Monday he would switch his vote, saying that children's health care is most important to him and that he would work through other avenues to help tobacco farmers.
Etheridge, who used to raise tobacco, made the switch today.
"After careful consideration, I have decided to vote to override the president’s veto," he said in a statement. "As the only former state schools chief serving in Congress, my life's work has been to provide for a better future for the next generation, and health care is critically important to that effort."
Liberal bloggers had targeted both Etheridge and McIntyre with a phone campaign.
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Re: Etheridge switches on SCHIP
Good on you, Congressman.
It bears repeating; SCHIP in NC makes health insurance for children in working and median income households AFFORDABLE, not free. Premiums are paid by SCHIP families on a sliding scale. This program simply offers affordable premiums to families who would otherwise not qualify for private carrier insurance or who would have to spend upwards of $1,000 a month out of their $2,000 - $4,000 a month take home pay on private carrier insurance.
Nice to know Congressional Republicans don't care about middle-income kids, at least not enough to stand up to Mr. Bush when it matters.
It's also nice to know that Congressmen Etheridge and McIntyre DO care about middle-income kids.