Bush vetoes 2nd bill expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)...

December 13, 2007 - Bush vetoes 2nd bill expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)... Wednesday (12/12/2007)was the deadline for Bush to act or let the bill become law. This is his second rejection of a bipartisan effort in Congress to increase funding for the program. Bush's statement said: "This bill does not put poor children first, and it moves our country's health care system in the wrong direction," Ultimately, our nation's goal should be to move children who have no health insurance to private coverage, not to move children who already have private health insurance to government coverage." Bush urged Congress to extend the program at its current funding level before lawmakers leave Washington for their holiday break. Congressional leaders said now will try to extend the SCHIP program into 2008 in basically its current form. The House voted 211-180 late yesterday to put off until January 23, 2008 a vote on overriding the president's veto. ( "Bush Vetoes Kids' Health Bill Again", CBS NEWS, 12/13/2007.) President Bush continues to oppose an increase in cigarette and tobacco taxes to fund the expansion of the SCHIP program.