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Bush Vetoes Child Health Bill

Plan has two-thirds majority in Senate, but not in House

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 3, 2007 11:10 AM CDT
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(Newser) – President Bush today struck down a bipartisan compromise to expand a federal initiative providing care for children whose parents can’t afford it, the Los Angeles Times reports. Bush called the bill too costly, and said he would rather renew the current plan for five years; Democrats are unenthused, and said they will pursue winning enough House votes to override the veto.

The bill, reached in a compromise between Senate Republicans and Democrats in both houses, would raise the cigarette tax to renew and expand the State Children's Health Initiative Plan. The bill would have covered as many as 10 million children; Bush said he feared it would undermine private care by covering some middle-class children at the expense of poorer ones.

President Bush walks to his helicopter Marine One, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007, after vetoing a bill expanding a popular health care program for children by $35 billion. Bush was leaving for a day trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
President Bush walks to his helicopter Marine One, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007, after vetoing a bill expanding a popular health care program for children by $35 billion. Bush was leaving for a day trip to...   (Associated Press)
President Bush walks from the Oval Office, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007, after vetoing a bill expanding a popular health care program for children by $35 billion. Bush was leaving for a day trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
President Bush walks from the Oval Office, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007, after vetoing a bill expanding a popular health care program for children by $35 billion. Bush was leaving for a day trip to Lancaster,...   (Associated Press)
Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott of Miss., center, joined at left by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., and at right by House Minority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri, meets with reporters outside the West Wing of the White House after a meeting with President Bush, in Washington Tuesday,...
Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott of Miss., center, joined at left by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., and at right by House Minority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri, meets with reporters outside...   (Associated Press)
Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott of Miss., right, joined at left by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., meet with reporters outside the West Wing of the White House after a meeting with President Bush, in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007. The president and Congress are in conflict over...
Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott of Miss., right, joined at left by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., meet with reporters outside the West Wing of the White House after a meeting with President...   (Associated Press)
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