SCHIP passes in the Senate by a veto-proof majority

by: Zappatero

08/03/07 @ 07:51:46 AM MDT

Even the United States Senate agrees children's health care is important and should be expanded. They passed the bill with a Presidentially threatened veto-proof majority:

After a week of intense debate, the U.S. Senate on Thursday, Aug. 2 passed legislation by a strong, bipartisan vote (68-31) that will reauthorize and expand the landmark Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
 
  The bill, authored by Senator Jay Rockefeller, will provide $35 billion to renew and improve CHIP over the next five years – bringing the total federal investment for covering low-income, uninsured children to $60 billion over the same period. 
 
  Ten years ago this Sunday, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, co-authored by Senator Rockefeller, was signed into law. CHIP is a federal-state partnership aimed at providing health insurance to children who otherwise can’t afford it. The program expires on September 30, 2007, and without congressional action more than six million children will lose their health insurance.
 
  “There’s no better way to mark the 10th anniversary of CHIP than by giving millions more children a better start in life,” Rockefeller said. “Keeping children healthy speaks to our deepest humanity. The President is now faced with a choice: join with us in our efforts to provide children with health insurance or veto this legislation and take away the security of millions of families.”

It's news to me that Jay Rockefeller wrote the Senate bill. That shows that someone of wealth can work towards the best interests of all our citizens. Smart Republicans have also abanoned the President on this life and death issue. Democrats had no doubt about the right thing to do - for our children and the country. Will we see Bush at the bill sigining?