Congresswoman Shea-Porter Votes to Override President’s Veto of Children’s Health Care Bill

Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter

Representing New Hampshire’s 1st District

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

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Clark Pettig (202) 225-5456

Congresswoman Shea-Porter Votes to Override President’s Veto of Children’s Health Care Bill

Congress Faces Off with President

New Hampshire Denied Funds to Cover More Children

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter voted today to override President Bush’s veto of a bill increasing funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which is known as the Healthy Kids program in New Hampshire. Although a wide majority of the members of the House voted in favor of the bipartisan legislation, supporters were not able to get the two-thirds necessary to override the President’s veto.

Today’s vote was part of an ongoing battle between Congress and the President over spending on children’s health insurance. SCHIP is supported by some of the most conservative members of Congress, by 43 governors, 270 independent organizations and 81% of the American public. Yet, the President has twice vetoed the bipartisan proposals to reform SCHIP.

“This is a perfect example of why more doesn't get done in Washington,” said Congresswoman Shea-Porter. “The House and Senate pass legislation that is overwhelmingly supported by the American people – like children's health insurance – and the President vetoes it. Until more of the President's allies in Congress find the courage to override his vetoes, the country is stuck.”

The SCHIP program provides health care coverage to children in families that make too much to qualify for Medicaid, but too little to afford private insurance. The new legislation, had it not been vetoed by the President, would have guaranteed coverage for the 11,892 children in New Hampshire who are currently enrolled in Healthy Kids. It would have provided enough funding to cover an additional 8,720 children who are already eligible for care, but who have not yet been enrolled. Nationwide, it would have protected care for over 6 million children and allowed an additional 3.8 million to enroll in the program.

Proponents of the bill have argued that extending SCHIP would have the secondary effect of providing a needed stimulus to the economy. Families who become newly eligible for the program would be able to divert some of their current out-of-pocket medical expenses to spend on other needs, providing a needed boost to the economy.

“Many New Hampshire families count on the Healthy Kids program,” said Shea-Porter. “With the current economic situation, this program is more important than ever. I will continue to do everything I can to give more kids the chance to be ‘healthy kids.’”

In addition to the SCHIP veto, the President has threatened vetoes of dozens of other bills over the past year, effectively killing other popular proposals such as guaranteeing sufficient rest periods at home for troops who serve in Iraq and increasing funding for stem cell research.

With a vote of 260 to 152, the House fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to override the veto of HR 3963.

During debate on the bill, Congresswoman Shea-Porter spoke to the House of Representatives and urged her colleagues to vote to override President Bush’s veto. The text of her speech to the House can be found online at:

http://shea-porter.house.gov/?sectionid=21&sectiontree=4,21&itemid=303

Timeline of the SCHIP Debate

August 2, 2007 – Senate passes bipartisan SCHIP bill (HR 976) by a vote of 68 – 31. Supported by key conservative leaders in the Senate, including Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the bill passes the Senate with broad support. In order to offset the costs of covering more children, the legislation includes a $0.61 tax on cigarettes.

September 25, 2007 – House passes bipartisan SCHIP bill (HR 976) by a vote of 265 - 159 The bill, which slightly amends the Senate’s proposal in order to address concerns raised by some Republicans, passes the House with a strong majority.

September 27, 2007 – Senate again passes bipartisan SCHIP bill (HR 976) as amended by the House by a vote of 67 - 29.

October 3, 2007 – President vetoes HR 976.

October 4, 2007 – Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Max Baucus (D-MT), supporters of the legislation, write in a letter to the editor of the Washington Post that: “It's fine to have a philosophical debate over the merits of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. But opponents should be intellectually honest about what our bill does and doesn't do.” [Washington Post, Children’s Health Bill Facts, Page A24]

October 18, 2007 – House votes 273 - 156 to override the President’s veto, but falls short of the required two-thirds majority.

October 25, 2007 – House passes revised SCHIP bill (HR 3963) by a vote of 265 - 142. The new bipartisan compromise legislation addresses the President’s stated concerns, providing that only children in families below 300% of the federal poverty line are eligible for SCHIP coverage, rapidly phasing out coverage of adults, and clarifying that only citizens and legal immigrants may receive benefits.

November 1, 2007 – Senate passes revised SCHIP bill (HR 3963) by a vote of 64 – 30.

December 12, 2007 – President vetoes HR 3963.

January 23, 2008 – House votes 260 - 152 to override the President’s veto, but falls short of the required two-thirds majority.