daschle picked for health and human services

Tom Daschle will head the Health and Human Services Department, President-Elect Obama announced today in a news conference.

Daschle’s pick was overshadowed by the high drama of Obama’s first news conference since the scandal surrounding his Illinois Senate seat broke, but both men pressed on.

Obama announced that Daschle, 61, also will head the White House Office of Health Reform, and that his deputy in that job will be Jeanne Lambrew, his co-author on a book on health care reform.

In addition to the HHS post, Daschle, a former U.S. senator for South Dakota as well as Majority Leader from 2001-2003, will craft Obama's universal health care plan.

Texas Blog Roundup: SCHIP Edition

President Bush today vetoed an important and widely supported bi-partisan expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) (H.R. 976).

WhosPlayin takes a look at what the blogs of the Texas Progressive Alliance are saying about this terrible move:

Adam at Three Wise Men writes: Bush uses veto pen to strike health care for kids.

Blue 19th takes Randy Neugebauer to task for being willing to send billions to Iraq, but not to help children at home.

Blue 19th has uncovered a transcript of a secret press conference featuring the President, the Governor, and Rep. Randy Neugebauer. Put your sensibilities on hold and enjoy.

In examining President Bush's veto of the SCHIP reauthorization and expansion, Vince at Capitol Annex notes that this is one of the President's worst actions in office and also points us to statements on the veto from a pair of Texas Legislators: Mike Villarreal (D-San Antonio) and Ellen Cohen (D-Houston).


Muse interrupts her outrage at Bush’s SCHIP veto to send him a Bible verse, remind him that his approval numbers are half of the percentage of Americans who approve of the legislation and wonder if next up is clubbing baby seals and drowning kittens.

Eye On Williamson calls Bush and Rep. John Carter on their votes against children, for private insurance corporations and urges the people to get involved, Bush Vetoes Childrens Health Care & John Carter Is Right By His Side.

Matt Glazer of Burnt Orange Report notes that the non-partisan Center for Public Policy Priorities urges Texans to encourage Senator Cornyn and the 18 Texas Congressmen who voted against it to change their votes to override the veto. Matt also suggests that Bush, Perry, Cornyn, and McCaul hate children and encourages us to show our outrage at a rally for kids health.

Charles Kuffner of Off the Kuff notes that Bush is acting ashamed of this veto and explores the numbers needed for an override.

Wake Up America!!!

On a radio program , they played a portion of a Bush speech where he is talking to his supporters and he says something like "some people call you the elite, I call you my base." I think that says it all. Bush only cares about the small minority, with the greatest wealth.

He will do anything to ensure that their wealth grows, while everyone else continues to see their income decrease or are eliminated due to job outsourcing. Kanye West said "Bush doesn't care about black people." To that I would add, Bush doesn't care about poor people, working middle class people, gay people, all minorities (except the few misguided ones who continue to vote for him and his cronies- and he really doesn't care about them), the elderly, anyone without affordable healthcare, etc. or to sum it up, George Bush doesn't care about anyone not in the top 1% of the wealthy- his policies certainly demonstrate that. In the Dallas Morning News on 5/16, an article outlined his wealth as well as the wealth of Cheney. I am sure that any tax cut or policies he promotes are to ensure that he will benefit and continue to live on "easy street" along with his elite base. Wake up America and vote for American values and that means VOTE DEMOCRAT!!!