Bush vetoes SCHIP expansion

President Bush on Wednesday vetoed legislation that would have extended the coverage of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), objecting to the additional funding that the expansion would require.

{mosads}The White House said the legislation, which passed with bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress, was used to score political points. Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters the president remains committed to find common ground with Democrats on the issue.

The measure would have extended SCHIP, which was created to provide health insurance to poor children, and allowed children currently not eligible to be covered as well.

Perino said the president “wants to make sure that the neediest children are covered first.”

However, Democrats quickly condemned the veto, with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) calling it “heartless.”

“Bipartisan majorities in both houses of Congress and the governors of nearly every state, healthcare providers and patient advocates, rural and urban Americans and citizens of all ages are united in strong support of our nation’s children,” Reid said. “With today’s veto, President Bush has turned his back on America’s children and he stands alone.”

While the Senate passed the expansion with a veto-proof majority, House Republicans have vowed to stop any effort that would seek to override Bush’s veto.

The expansion of the program would cost $35 billion over five years. Supporters of the plan want to raise the tax on cigarettes by 61 cents to $1 in order to pay for the additional costs.