November 01, 2007

Senate Dems OK SCHIP... Again

The Senate today approved a children's health insurance bill that in a slightly different incarnation was vetoed by President Bush earlier this fall. Bush has also threatened to veto the current bill because it includes a tax hike on cigarettes that is meant to help pay for the $35 billion program.

The bill passed 64-30. Last week, House Democrats also passed the bill but without a veto-proof majority.

Republicans forced a vote on the bill sooner than Democrats would have liked. GOP lawmakers appear to have come around on the $35 billion expansion of SCHIP, but remain reluctant to sign on to the cigarette tax increase. Bush has promised not to budge on SCHIP so long as it contains a tax increase of any kind.

Posted at 6:10 PM
Posted to: Bush Administration, Congress, House, President Bush, Senate
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