Second Bush Veto For SCHIP Bill

However, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., argued that the second SCHIP bill demonstrated Congress' "willingness to compromise, and to go a long way for an agreement to renew and improve" the program. "This veto is just as wrong for America's working families and for poor children as the President's first rejection of children's health legislation this year."

Sen. Baucus said that work on the issue would continue, and that for the meantime he expects Congress to send the president another piece of legislation to maintain the program as is for the time being. "The hour is late now," he said. "When the President gets his next chance to do something about CHIP-and a chance to improve health care for America's seniors through Medicare-he must stop playing politics, and do at least a little better by Americans in need."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said House Democrats would introduce legislation to maintain the program to cover the program through the end of the fiscal year on September 30. She also vowed to continue the fight, saying that "Democrats will not rest until 10 million children in America have access to health care" and that the care is paid for by the federal government.

"Let it be clear that we will persist with this effort," she added.

The Republican leader in the House, however, was equally critical of the majority, particularly its decision not to vote on a potential override until after the New Year.

"The majority consistently tells us that this Congress is focused on 'the children.' But their decision to delay this veto override vote is just more proof that what this Congress really is focused on is politics," said Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio. "By delaying the vote to override the President's veto of their flawed bill to expand SCHIP to cover adults, illegal immigrants, and those who already have private health insurance, the majority has proven once again that they have no intention of renewing this program in a responsible, bipartisan way."

Boehner added that Democrats had turned the issue into a "political football" and that the situation was "beyond disappointing, but after a year marked by non-stop partisan politics on Capitol Hill, it's not at all surprising."