White House Ready to Deal on Kids' Health

The White House will work with Democrats toward a compromise on children's health insurance, Health Secretary Michael Leavitt said today. "If it takes more money, we'll put it up," he said, though he didn't specify how much. Meanwhile, Nancy Pelosi is trying to get the 14 GOP votes the House needs to override Bush's veto of the bill, the AP reports.

"Everybody wants children to have health insurance," Leavitt said. He and Bush have condemned the primarily Democratic initiative to boost spending on the State Children's Health Insurance Program by $35 billion as a move toward nationalizing health insurance. They pushed for a $5 billion increase, but now that figure is up for negotiation. (More Mike Leavitt stories.)