The House tonight passed an expansion of SCHIP with a resounding 265-159 vote, yet fell short of a veto-proof majority. 151 Republicans voted against expanding access to healthcare for millions of children whose families can't afford private insurance but don't qualify for Medicaid, while 45 Republicans voted with the Democrats (more than supporters thought would defect.)
From WaPo:
The compromise package would expand the $5 billion-a-year children's health insurance program by an average of $7 billion a year over the next five years, for total funding of $60 billion over the period. That would be enough to boost the program's enrollment to 10 million, up from the 6.6 million, and dramatically reduce the ranks of America's 9 million uninsured children, supporters said.
Bush repeated his veto threat again today citing a slide toward government-run healthcare and budget concerns. As for the former, well, the private insurance industry was so concerned about it that they endorsed the bill:
Indeed, the compromise worked out between the House and the Senate has garnered the support of the health insurance industry, AARP, the American Medical Association, governors from both parties and a platoon of children's health advocates.
And as for the latter, Rahm Emanuel said it well on the floor of the House: it's not about money, it's about priorities.
The senate will take the bill up later this week (they reportedly do have a veto-proof majority) and then Bush will have to decide if he wants to set operation alienate women and moderates in motion next week and veto it. If he does, the House would have to produce 24 more Yes votes to override.
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