The White House Confronts Congress over Domestic Spending

Making News

US Troops, Iraqi Civilian Deaths Fall Sharply ()

Civilian deaths from violence dropped by 50% across Iraq last month with a comparable decline in those wounded. American casualties have also declined. Greg Jaffe reports from the Pentagon for the Wall Street Journal.

Guests:

• Greg Jaffe: Pentagon Correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, @GregJaffe

Main Topic

The White House Confronts Congress over Domestic Spending ()

Last Friday, President Bush told House Speaker Nancy Pelosi he still plans to veto expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, despite overwhelming approval in Congress and the advice of a lot of conservative allies. Pelosi said she's praying that he'll change his mind, but Democrats are rubbing their hands over what they see as a political opportunity. So many Republican Senators face trouble next year that the upper house gave the bill a veto-proof majority. We hear the pros and cons of extending government coverage to four million uninsured kids for five years.  How does it compare to funding wars in Iraq and Afghanistan this year alone?

Guests:

• Jonathan Weisman: Congressional Reporter for the Washington Post, @jonathanweisman
• Merrill Matthews: Director of the Council for Affordable Health Insurance
• Ron Pollack: Executive Director of Families USA, @FamiliesUSA
• Martin Kady: Reporter for Congressional Quarterly, @mkady
• Greg Speeter: Executive Director of the National Priorities Project
• Ron Brownstein: Political Director for Atlantic Media, @RonBrownstein

Links:

• President Bush's radio address
• Senator Grassley (R-IA) to President Bush on SCHIP
• Weisman's article on SCHIP
• Kady's article on SCHIP veto threat
• Brownstein's column on President Bush, SCHIP

Reporter's Notebook

A Change of Direction for the Roberts Supreme Court? ()

The US Supreme Court began a new session today. Despite rejecting two cases involving the separation of church and state, this year's agenda includes up plenty of opportunities for dramatizing divisions among the justices. Last year, the court took a sharp turn to the right when Justice Sandra O'Connor was replaced by Samuel Alito. Chief Justice John Roberts now presides over a court that can swing either way. Patricia Millett, who spent 11 years in the Justice Department, is a partner at a Washington law firm.

Guests:

• Patricia Millett: Former official in the Justice Department