Senate ready to pass SCHIP
By ALEX ISENSTADT | 1/23/09 2:05 PM EST

Reid says debate over the insurance program will begin after vote on confirmation of Geithner.
Photo: AP

The Senate will take up legislation to pass a major children's health insurance bill late Monday, knocking out yet another big priority for Democrats in the 111th Congress.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Friday afternoon debate over the State Children's Health Insurance Program would begin after the Senate's votes on the confirmation on Timothy Geithner to be treasury secretary. Reid said he expected passage of the SCHIP bill by the end of the week.

Quick passage of the SCHIP bill would show that Democrats are quickly plowing through some of the top labor, health and workplace legislation backed by the Obama administration. The Senate on Thursday passed a gender discrimination bill, known as the Lilly Ledbetter Act, and the union-backed “Employee Free Choice Actâ€