Senate Passes New SCHIP Bill
In the face of a veto threat and continued opposition from some Republicans, the Senate passed a new bill Thursday evening to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
Senators voted 64-to-30 in favor of expanding SCHIP by $35 billion over five years, up from its current baseline funding of $25 billion. The House passed the SCHIP proposal last week.
President Bush has criticized the bill, stating that it should focus more on kids in families earning less than double the federal poverty line.
House lawmakers voted 265-142 to approve the new plan, falling short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.
A current extension of SCHIP expires in mid-November.
Published on November 2, 2007
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