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Update: Second SCHIP bill falls short of veto-proof majority
Maryland Democrats say they will continue to push the issue, take their case to the country
Issue date: 10/25/07
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A second version of a bill that would expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) passed in the House of Representatives Thursday but failed to muster enough votes to override a presidential veto.
Despite their failure to draw more Republican support, Maryland Democrats - including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer - said they would continue to push the issue.
"I don't think we're going to let this one go," said Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.), who voted for the bill.
"We'll keep pushing back without relinquishing the goal to cover 10 million children."
"It's unfortunate that there was not enough support," said Bradley Herring, an assistant professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health who served as a senior economist on the Bush White House's Council of Economic Advisors.
"What the House Democrats have to do is overcome. My guess is getting Republicans to switch will be easier than [getting] Bush."
Sarbanes said he felt an extended fight was warranted based on the amount of support for the bill by the nation.
"Eighty percent of the American public support this according to polling information. We're taking our cue from what the public is saying."
The proposed funding increase remains at $35 million over the next five years. The President and other Republicans have expressed concerns that the expansion would "crowd out" private health insurance plans that would otherwise be affordable to SCHIP families.
"Evidence suggests there was crowd-out, but there will always be crowd-out. In the big picture, it is better to crowd out than for children to go without," said Herring.
"SCHIP did a good job covering kids."
Changes to the bill from its previous version, which Bush also vetoed, tighten the requirements that states have to meet before expanding their programs to cover children whose families earn over 200 percent of the poverty line.
If the bill passes, guidelines for these requirements will be created by different Congressional leaders and representatives from each state.
Despite their failure to draw more Republican support, Maryland Democrats - including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer - said they would continue to push the issue.
"I don't think we're going to let this one go," said Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.), who voted for the bill.
"We'll keep pushing back without relinquishing the goal to cover 10 million children."
"It's unfortunate that there was not enough support," said Bradley Herring, an assistant professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health who served as a senior economist on the Bush White House's Council of Economic Advisors.
"What the House Democrats have to do is overcome. My guess is getting Republicans to switch will be easier than [getting] Bush."
Sarbanes said he felt an extended fight was warranted based on the amount of support for the bill by the nation.
"Eighty percent of the American public support this according to polling information. We're taking our cue from what the public is saying."
The proposed funding increase remains at $35 million over the next five years. The President and other Republicans have expressed concerns that the expansion would "crowd out" private health insurance plans that would otherwise be affordable to SCHIP families.
"Evidence suggests there was crowd-out, but there will always be crowd-out. In the big picture, it is better to crowd out than for children to go without," said Herring.
"SCHIP did a good job covering kids."
Changes to the bill from its previous version, which Bush also vetoed, tighten the requirements that states have to meet before expanding their programs to cover children whose families earn over 200 percent of the poverty line.
If the bill passes, guidelines for these requirements will be created by different Congressional leaders and representatives from each state.
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