Congressional Democrats plan to attempt to override President Bush’s veto of the State-Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007. They have not yet the votes to override. As a result,the NY Times finds Democratic House Leader Steny Hoyer looking to compromise with Bush. There is plenty you can do to help change that.

What Can You Do? Citizens’ Action of New York is calling upon all of us to call the two Republican Congress Members Tuesday. John “Randy” Kuhl and Thomas Reynolds voted with President Bush and against children.

National Call-In Days on Health Care for Kids Monday, October 15th through Wednesday, October 17th

CALL RANDY KUHL AND TOM REYNOLDS 1-866-544-7573

All New Yorkers, wherever you live, should call Kuhl, except for Western New Yorkers, who should call Reynolds. Tell Congressmen Kuhl and Reynolds to override the President's veto of SCHIP and to expand health care coverage for hundreds of thousands of New York kids.
The vote to override the President's veto -- expected on October 18th -- will be extremely close. We need you to call now and tell everyone else you know to call!

Or -- call directly: Rep. Randy Kuhl: (202) 225-3161 – Karen Livingston (staffer)

Rep. Thomas Reynolds:(202) 225-5265 – Tina Mufford (staffer)

Children's Defense Fund suggested phone riff “New York needs you to support Congress’ SCHIP compromise bill. Child Health Plus has provided NY’s children with access to vital health care for our children. New Yorkers expect you to vote to override the President’s veto. It’s the morally right thing to do.” More, including links to some of the better ads, after the jump.

Have you been following the fight to reauthorize and expand the State-Child Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP)? Tuesday, a large majority of Congress members voted for a House-Senate compromise which will make lower cost health insurance available to millions of children who are, at present, without any. UPDATE: Thursday night, the Senate voted for S-CHIP 67-29; greater than two-thirds majority. Every GOP Senator in a tight bid for reelection in 2008 voted for S-CHIP and against Mr. Bush. President Bush, that deplorable politician, has promised a veto.

The problem progressives face is that, even with 45 GOP votes, we are 24 votes away from a veto over-riding two-thirds majority. Peter King and Vito Fossella, perhaps with a wish to avoid political extinction, voted for the bill (They’d voted against earlier versions in the House). Two NYS GOP Congress Members voted with Mr. Bush against Child Health: John "Randy" Kuhl & Thomas Renyolds. A Century Foundation poll shows voters want to spend more to insure more children and oppose a Bush veto.

Moveon.org-Politcal Action* is preparing to fight back, if Mr. Bush vetos. I’ve agreed to help put on a Manhattan Rapid Response Rally at 6PM the day after the Bush veto. We’ve decided to rally at the West Side of Columbus Circle in front of the Time-Warner building. We are still begging for permits. More than 150 others are planned. Please click here to sign-up and help. More suggested action and background post-jump.

Something Different After Day 181. Gov. Elliot Spitzer and his NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) dramatically altered and improved the housing fate of tens of thousands of Mitchell-Lama tenants. When the owners of Mitchell-Lama projects opt out of the program, the usual rule of law had been that those tenants become rent-stabilized – no big windfall for the owner. However, some owners, seizing on language in the enabling legislation, had won a court ruling that opting out of Mitchell-Lama was itself such a “unique and peculiar circumstance” that the apartments could instantly be converted to market rate. Yesterday, the Governor and the DCHR closed that loophole. NYDN article here.