Bush threatens veto of child health bill

The United States Senate recently passed by a 68-31 vote an important bill that would raise taxes on tobacco products in order to fund an expanded children's health insurance program. Under the Senate plan, an additional $35 billion would be provided to expand the popular program. A similar bill providing an additional $50 billion in funding recently passed the House of Representatives. However, even if the House and Senate resolve these differences and pass a single bill, the President has threatened a veto.

Under CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program), the federal government provides grants to the individual states to cover children whose parents earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but who can't afford health insurance. These children often fall through the cracks in the health care system. Some republicans oppose expanding the program, claiming it is a step towards "socialized medicine," or a "single-payer system." However, even Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), one of the most conservative members of the Senate, supported the Senate bill and noted that the money involved represents just a tiny fraction of the $2 trillion health care industry in America.

If President Bush does veto the bill, it is unclear if Congress could override the veto.