Reporting Schaffer's criticism of Democrats' “partisan bickering” over SCHIP, Post didn't mention bill's bipartisan support

Written by Media Matters Staff

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The Denver Post reported Colorado Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer's criticism of congressional Democrats for their efforts to override President Bush's veto of a bill to expand a health insurance program for low-income children, uncritically quoting him as saying Democrats were engaging in “partisan bickering.” In fact, the bill to increase funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support, and 44 House Republicans later voted to override the veto.

An October 18 article in The Denver Post uncritically quoted Colorado Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer's criticism of congressional Democrats for “partisan bickering” over a bill passed by Congress and vetoed by President Bush that would have renewed and expanded the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). However, the Post article, by Karen E. Crummy, did not mention that 18 Republican senators and 45 Republican House members voted in favor of the measure Congress passed in late September.

As the Post reported, “Colorado Democrats are putting the heat on GOP senatorial candidate Bob Schaffer in an effort to smoke out his positions on everything from drilling on the Roan Plateau to the State Children's Health Insurance Program, known as SCHIP. But Schaffer isn't playing along.” The Post continued:

The former Colorado congressman, a vice president at a Denver-based energy company, has remained quietly on the sidelines. He says he's in the early stages of his campaign and is spending time fundraising, talking to voters and working at his job.

“I am starting my campaign with my ears, not my mouth,” Schaffer said Wednesday.

But with the U.S. House of Representatives set to vote today on whether to override President Bush's veto of expanded SCHIP coverage, Democrats say Schaffer should end his silence.

“If they override the veto, it could potentially then go to the Senate, and what would Bob Schaffer do if he was there?” said Matt Sugar, communication director for the state Democrats. “He's running a campaign and raising money but has failed to state a position on anything of importance to Colorado.”

Schaffer, who voted for the creation of the children's health program in 1997, declined to say what he would do. Instead, he took a shot across the aisle.

“I would hope that the Democrats would be willing to abandon this partisan bickering and take advantage of a bipartisan solution that helps children in a fair way,” he said.

In addition to the bipartisan support for the initial SCHIP legislation Bush vetoed, 44 House Republicans voted with Democrats in the later, unsuccessful attempt to override Bush's veto, according to an October 18 New York Times online article:

Supporters of a bill to provide health insurance for 10 million children failed this afternoon, as expected, to muster enough support in the House to override President Bush's veto.

The vote to override the veto was 273 to 156, or 13 votes short of the necessary two-thirds majority of those present and voting; the bill was originally approved by a 265 to 159 vote on Sept. 25.

The main suspense before today's vote was over how many Republicans would side against President Bush. Forty-four House Republicans voted for the bill today, compared to 45 on Sept. 25.