Congressional Democrats have scrapped plans for another vote on expansion of the SCHIP..

September 12, 2008 - Congressional Democrats have scrapped plans for another vote on expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), thus sparing Republicans from a politically difficult vote just weeks before elections this fall. Before the summer recess, Democrats had vowed repeatedly to force another vote on the popular program. But Democrats say they have shifted course, after concluding that President Bush would not sign their legislation and that they could not override his likely veto.

The legislation would expand SCHIP by $35 billion over the next five years, paid for by a 61-cent-per-pack federal excise tax (FET) tax increase on cigarettes and increases in the federal tax rates on other tobacco products.

Mr. Bush vetoed two earlier versions of the legislation, which he denounced as a dangerous step toward “government-run health care for every American,” and the House sustained those vetoes. (Bush vetoes 2nd bill expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)... and Bush's SCHIP veto stands..)

Some more related news briefs: AWMA urges grassroots effort to defeat FDA tobacco regulation and SCHIP.., U.S. House fails to override SCHIP expansion veto.. and Revised State Children's Health Insurance (S-CHIP) Bill...

Reference: Facing Veto, Democrats Drop Plan for Vote on Child Bill by ROBERT PEAR, 9/7/2008.