Bush To Veto SCHIP Expansion In Favor Of…Universal Health Care?

Bush is for universal health care?

Clinton unveiled her plan as Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said President Bush wants to achieve universal health care before he leaves office.
Leavitt told the USA TODAY editorial board that Bush will veto a Democratic plan emerging from Congress that would add $35 billion in taxpayer subsidies to the Children’s Health Insurance Program over five years. In doing so, Leavitt said, Bush will urge Congress to join him in seeking coverage for all Americans.
“He’d like to see the larger debate begin,” Leavitt said. “The very best opportunity we have may well be in the next 15 months.”

That’s got to be wrong. I notice the reporter doesn’t quote Leavitt correctly, but attributes the “universal health care” term to him. I’d be willing to wager that Bush, and Leavitt, didn’t mean “universal health care” in the way liberals mean it. Rather, they likely favor policies that allow people to better cover themselves rather than policies that charge the government with providing health care.
Thats where the Bush administration has been so far, and I find it hard to believe that the stubborn Bush would be shifting on that now.