Bush Vetoes SCHIP Legislation for a Second Time

President Bush vetoed legislation this week that would have expanded government-provided health insurance for children. Bush said the bill was unacceptable because—like the first one—it allows adults into the program, would cover people in families with incomes above the U.S. median and raises taxes. He noted that the bill does not put poor children first, and it moves our country's health care system in the wrong direction. Bush urged Congress to extend the program at its current funding level before lawmakers leave Washington for their holiday break. 

The bill Bush vetoed would have increased federal funding for SCHIP by $35 billion over five years, to add an estimated 4 million people to the program that provides insurance coverage for children from families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance. The joint federal-state program currently provides benefits to roughly 6 million people, mostly children. Of the 43 million people nationwide who lack health insurance, more than 6 million are under 18 years old. That's more than 9 percent of all children.