McCain: Children's Healthcare

Before you read the following US Senate votes, in which McCain voted "NO" and Obama voted "YES", you should understand a few facts. Bills get signed into law by the President. Amendments are used to make changes to bills. They can be used to strike (remove things from), add, or modify a bill.

I only mention this because when McCain is questioned about his US Senate votes he often responds by saying, "The bill contained 'pork/earmarks' or tells the person asking the question that he doesn't know where he got that information from. Simply put if you vote against an amendment, you don't want to see it on the bill.

McCain says he is for children but his US Senate votes don't say that, here are some of the votes:

US SENATE VOTES

McCain voted "NO" Obama voted "YES"

Children

This is a BILL it passed McCain voted "NO"

Vote Number: 307 Vote Date: August 2, 2007, 10:18 PM
Required For Majority: 1/2 Vote Result: Bill Passed
Measure Number: H.R. 976 (Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2007 )
Measure Title: A bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes.
Source: US Senate Vote 307

This amendment established a 1% tax on adjusted gross incomes of $500,000 or greater to help end child poverty. Basically if you had deductions that lowered your gross salary below $500,000 you did not pay the tax.

Vote Number: 338 Vote Date: November 17, 2005, 08:42 PM
Required For Majority: 3/5 Vote Result: Motion Rejected
Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 2588 to S. 2020
Statement of Purpose: To eliminate child poverty.
Source: US Senate Vote 338

Vote Number: 337 Vote Date: November 17, 2005, 08:23 PM
Required For Majority: 3/5 Vote Result: Motion Rejected
Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 2596 to S. 2020
Statement of Purpose: To express the sense of the Senate concerning the provision of health care for children before providing tax cuts for the wealthy.

This is what the sense of the senate was, what McCain voted "NO" to and Obama voted "YES" to:

Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that--
(1) the Senate should not vote to extend the capital gains and dividend tax cuts, a majority of the benefits of which go to households with incomes over $1,000,000, until Congress has taken steps to ensure that all children in America have access to affordable, quality health insurance;
(2) the Senate should vote instead to use the funds generated by the expiration of the capital gains and dividend tax cuts to further the goal of ensuring that children have access to health insurance coverage by--
(A) awarding grants to States, faith-based organizations, safety net providers, schools, and other community and non-profit organizations to facilitate the enrollment of the 6,800,000 children who are currently eligible for enrollment in the State Children's Health Insurance Program but who are not enrolled;
(B) paying to each State with an approved State Children's Health Insurance Program or Medicaid plan, an amount equal to 90 percent of the sums expended for the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of enrollment systems determined likely to provide more efficient and effective administration of the plan's enrollment and retention C) establishing a grant program under which a State may apply under section 1115 of the Social Security Act to provide medical assistance under the State Children's Health Insurance of eligible children; and
(Program to all children in their State.
Source: US Senate Vote 337

The Bill for these amendments passed, theses amendments did not make it

Vote Number: 279 Vote Date: October 27, 2005, 05:01 PM
Required For Majority: 3/5 Vote Result: Motion Rejected
Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 2287 to H.R. 3010
Statement of Purpose: To increase appropriations for after-school programs through 21st century community learning centers.
Source: US Senate Vote 279

Vote Number: 272 Vote Date: October 26, 2005, 05:03 PM
Required For Majority: 3/5 Vote Result: Motion Rejected
Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 2254 to H.R. 3010
Statement of Purpose: To increase appropriations for Head Start programs.
Source: US Senate Vote 272

Vote Number: 269 Vote Date: October 26, 2005, 11:44 AM
Required For Majority: 3/5 Vote Result: Motion Rejected
Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 2275 to H.R. 3010
Statement of Purpose: To provide additional funding for title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
Source: US Senate 269