Forty-seven million Americans don't have health insurance, and 8.7 million of them are children according to just-released census data. The numbers signal a disturbing trend: the number of uninsured are rising (even as the median income rises) and still President Bush is vocal in his opposition to expanding a program that could extend insurance to 5 to 6 million children, by levying higher taxes on tobacco products. Ah, the great moral quandary: healthy kids or healthy profit margins for Big Tobacco?

Last week, despite a presidential veto threat, both the House and Senate passed legislation that would expand the Children's Health Insurance Program. With an estimated 9 million children without insurance in this country, it might be surprising that there were 23 senators opposed to the legislation.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) opposes the S-CHIP health care program for children, despite the fact that more than 100,000 Kentucky children are enrolled in it. Why? Follow the money.

We've already said it, but now the Palm Beach Post is saying it in an editorial detailing how the election of Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) is not exactly a breath of fresh air. After going through Boehner's history of passing out tobacco checks,...

Cold. Hard. Cash. We've also posted a quick summary of Boehner's likeness to the disgraced Majority Leader he replaces, Tom DeLay. Feel free to circulate: The Facts on John Boehner (R-OH) 1. Like Tom DeLay, John Boehner has close ties to K...

Here's the AP story.Embattled Rep. Tom DeLay decided Saturday to give up his post as House majority leader, clearing the way for new leadership elections among House Republicans eager to shed the taint of scandal, two officials said.[...]His ...