Bush's SCHIP veto stands..

October 18, 2007 - Bush's SCHIP veto stands - The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly failed (273 in favor and 156 against, the vote was just 13 votes k) yesterday to override President Bush’s veto of H.R. 976, the bill passed by Congress to reauthorize and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). The legislation would have authorized an increase in federal tobacco taxes—including a 61-cents-per-pack cigarette tax hike to $1 per pack from the current 39 cents, as well as other tobacco tax increases—to pay for the expansion. The House vote was just 13 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to override the veto - to view roll call for the vote. Click on Images to enlarge.. Even before the vote, Congress passed and the president signed legislation to continue government operations, that included a short extension of the SCHIP bill at its current funding levels with no tax increases until mid-November. Congress will likely consider a revised version of the SCHIP bill soon in order to keep the program running after the temporary extension expires. (CSP (Convenience Store/Petroleum) Daily News, 10/19/2007) See related news briefs: October 3, 2007 September 27, 2007September 21, 2007 September 19, 2007 July 28, 2007 July 18, 2007 and July 9, 2007