November 2, 2007
Senate Sends New SCHIP Bill to President

The Senate yesterday passed a bill reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) for five more years at total funding of $60 billion. The bill, H.R. 3963, which was passed by the House last week, now goes to President Bush for an expected veto. The new bill makes minor changes in an earlier bill that was vetoed by President Bush but does not address the President’s major objections—that the funding of $35 billion over current levels is more than the administration wants for SCHIP, and that the money would come from an increase in the federal tax on cigarettes. New SCHIP legislation is expected to come up again in the session of Congress that convenes in January, meanwhile, SCHIP is scheduled to continue at present levels under a continuing resolution passed by Congress last month.