Senators blast Bush for SCHIP threat

2007-08-01

Source: Gannett News Service

President Bush should abandon his threats to veto legislation that would renew the popular State Children's Health Insurance Program, New Jersey's senators said today.

Sens. Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg, both Democrats, urged Bush instead to endorse congressional efforts to cover more low-income children. Speaking on the Senate floor, they added that a country that spends billions each week in Iraq could certainly afford to spend more on its own vulnerable children.

Congress is expected to approve SCHIP legislation this week. The Senate measure calls for $35 billion more for the program over the next five years. The House proposes nearly $48 billion. Both would raise federal cigarette taxes and the House bill would cut Medicare Advantage, under which 9 million senior citizens receive coverage from private plans that receive Medicare money.

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