S-CHIP: Here we go again; Update: Roll call vote added
By Michelle Malkin • January 23, 2008 10:56 AM

Update 2:20pm Eastern. Veto override failed. Here’s the roll call vote. H R 3963 2/3 YEA-AND-NAY 23-Jan-2008 12:52 PM
QUESTION: Passage, Objections of the President Not Withstanding
BILL TITLE: Children’s Health Insurance Program Extension and Improvement
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll022.xml



GOP leader Boehner’s statement:

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today expressed disappointment at the Majority’s latest attempt to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to cover illegal immigrants and adults at the expense of low-income children. Boehner voted to sustain the President’s veto of the flawed measure and issued the following statement:

“After two failures to override the President’s vetoes of their flawed SCHIP bill, I hope congressional Democrats finally end the political games that have dominated this debate and work with Republicans to focus on low-income children first. The Majority’s bill would shortchange low-income children and expand SCHIP coverage to illegal immigrants, adults, and those who already have private health insurance. This is particularly irresponsible at a time when our economy is slowing down and American families are feeling the strain from rising costs of living.

“Democrats and Republicans alike established SCHIP a decade ago to ensure our nation’s low-income children have access to high-quality health care. Likewise, just a month ago, both parties overwhelmingly voted to extend SCHIP into 2009 and cover the program’s funding shortfall. Unfortunately, that spirit of cooperation has consistently taken a back seat to the Majority’s ongoing efforts to politicize this issue in order to move more Americans from private insurance to government-run health care. As we have been for the past year, Republicans are ready to work in a bipartisan way to reauthorize SCHIP and keep its focus on low-income children. After this latest failed attempt to enact its flawed legislation, I hope the Majority is finally ready to do the same.â€