President Pledges Veto of SCHIP Extension if Congress Exceeds $5 Billion Funding Request
July 19, 2007
President Pledges Veto of SCHIP Extension if Congress Exceeds $5 Billion Funding Request
President Bush said yesterday that he will veto an extension of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) if Congress sends him legislation increasing spending for SCHIP by $35 billion over the next five years. A Senate committee is recommending the $35 billion figure after scaling down a proposal for a $50 billion increase. The added funds would allow the program to expand SCHIP to more children, a move the Bush administration opposes on what the President described yesterday as "philosophical" grounds. The administration has said it regards expansion of SCHIP as a first step toward government-provided health insurance for all Americans. The SCHIP program, which was enacted 10 years ago, is due to expire this year unless Congress acts and the President agrees to reauthorize it. The program is intended to provide affordable health insurance to children in families too well off to qualify for Medicaid but not earning enough to buy private health insurance.