|
Home > What's New > House Passes New SCHIP Bill -- Another Veto Expected
 Email this feature to a friend
House Passes New SCHIP Bill -- Another Veto Expected
Posted: Friday, October 26, 2007
By David Savona
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a new expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program yesterday, but fell short of the votes it would need to override another veto from President Bush, which is expected.
The new legislation, called H.R. 3963, sought the same $35 billion expansion of the program, known as SCHIP, but included some changes, including barring coverage to adults without children. The funding would still come from higher tobacco taxes. This bill called for the same increase in the federal excise tax on large cigars as the previous version, to 52.988 percent of the manufacturers' selling price with a $3 cap. The current tax is 20.7 percent, with a cap of five cents.
This vote was 265 to 142, with fewer representatives voting than in the attempted veto override on October 18, which went 273 to 156. A number of congressmen are in California due to the wildfire disaster and weren't present for the vote.
The White House reiterated Bush's opposition to the legislation: "Because H.R. 3963 has not addressed in a meaningful way the objections that caused the President to veto H.R. 976, the President will veto this legislation if it is presented to him without significant changes."
The Senate is expected to take up the new bill next week.
Back to top
| 
Cigar Aficionado RSS Feed