Kids' Health Care Bill Heads for 2nd Veto

Senate passes revised S-CHIP, but Bush says it won't pass muster

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 2, 2007 7:51 AM CDT

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Kids' Health Care Bill Heads for 2nd Veto — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007, to discuss the Children's Health Care Compromise Bill. President Bush has vowed to veto the bill. (Associated Press)

The Senate yesterday passed a revised S-CHIP bill that would provide health insurance for 10 million underprivileged children, CNN reports, but President Bush has vowed a second veto because it raises tobacco taxes. The bill passed 64-30, with high-profile Republicans such as Charles Grassley joining the majority.

Like the first try, the bill would expand funding for the program by $35 billion over 5 years, and it also lacks the two-thirds majority required to override a veto. But Senate Finance Committee chair Max Baucus told Reuters that Congress was making progress on a veto-proof compromise bill. (More Congress stories.)

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