Bush vetoes SCHIP bill for second time

WASHINGTON President Bush vetoed a bill yesterday that would have continued the State Children’s Health Insurance Program for another five years, according to the washingtonpost.com.

Pushed by the Democratic-led Congress but also supported by many Republicans, the bill was aimed at providing health insurance to about 10 million children in low- and moderate-income families. Taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products would have been increased to pay for the aid.

Bush vetoed a version of the bill in October but Congress quickly passed another one that included some changes but not enough to satisfy the White House.

“Because the Congress has chosen to send me an essentially identical bill that has the same problems as the flawed bill I previously vetoed, I must veto this legislation too,” Bush wrote in a message to the House of Representatives.

“This is indeed a sad action for him to take, because so many children in our country need access to quality health care,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, told reporters.

Democratic leaders said they plan a temporary funding bill to ensure that those children keep their coverage through the fiscal year ending Sept. 30.