The next step in Congress is gathering enough votes to override Bush's veto. In the Senate, with 18 Republicans voting in favor of CHIP, there are enough votes. Not so in the House, where the bulk of Republican legislators are marching in lock step with an unpopular president against providing American children with health insurance. House minority leader Roy Blunt of Missouri is "'absolutely confident' that the House would be able to sustain Bush's expected veto."
Montana's Republican Representative, Dennis Rehberg, voted for the bill on its first run through Congress. Now comes a political test: can he move any of his colleague's votes to override the veto? Can he nudge his party towards reason on an issue crucial to Montanans? Or will we see if he's a powerless and unimportant member of a minority party? If the latter, he should be replaced with Bill Kennedy, who would at least be a part of a legislative Congressional majority.
Meanwhile, look for Sens. Tester and Baucus put the heat on the GOP. Hopefully we can get this thing done, despite Republican obstructionalism.
