CAPITOL LETTERS

The House had a love-fest as it tentatively passed a bill to partially restore the Children's Health Insurance Program to its pre-2003 contours. The vote was 126-16.

Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, who during debate preceding a key test vote razzed a Republican amendment author mercilessly, went to the back mike to praise Speaker Tom Craddick and the bill's co-authors, Democrat Sylvester Turner and Republican John Davis, both of Houston.

Ms. Thompson's bouquet was so unusual that defeated speaker's candidate Jim Pitts immediately requested that her comments be reprinted in the House Journal.

Casting an "aye" vote was the bill's harshest critic from the left, Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston. He said it's progress, and he's a progressive.

"Attaboy, add a kid," he quipped.