President Bush sent it back to Congress this morning (WP). He’s called it too costly and a move toward government run health care. The bill would have extended coverage to another 3.5 million children whose families can’t afford health insurance, but make too much to qualify for Medicaid. That extension would have cost an additional $35 billion over five years.
A few quick thoughts:
-Mr. Bush’s criticisms that SCHIP expansion is too expensive and government-expanding are somewhat odd when you consider this is the same administration that signed off on the Medicare prescription drug benefit. At the time, that plan was touted to cost more than $500 billion over 10 years and its projected cost now is even higher.
-Three of the President’s four total vetoes have been for health-related bills: two for stem cell funding and now today’s veto of SCHIP reauthorization.
-Greg Dahlmann