Bush Vetos SCHIP... Again

As expected, last night President Bush vetoed Congress’ second attempt to extend and expand the SCHIP program. The media is now speculating that Congress will pass a resolution to extend SCHIP in its current form through the end of the fiscal year. According to one report, a veto override vote has been scheduled for January 23, a few days before Bush is scheduled to give his State of the Union address.

SCHIP currently provides health coverage to 6 million children of working families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private insurance. Democratic and Republican lawmakers and governors, as well as 80 percent of the public, support expanding the SCHIP program. After the president vetoed the first SCHIP bill, Congress adjusted the bill to address the president’s concerns, but the president said Congress did not go far enough.