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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bush veto for child health bill | Bush veto for child health bill |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| US President George W Bush has vetoed a bill to expand a children's health care insurance scheme, after it was passed with a large majority in the Senate. | US President George W Bush has vetoed a bill to expand a children's health care insurance scheme, after it was passed with a large majority in the Senate. |
| Mr Bush argues it takes the programme beyond its original purpose of insuring children from low-income families. | Mr Bush argues it takes the programme beyond its original purpose of insuring children from low-income families. |
| The vetoed bill proposed higher tobacco taxes to provide an extra $35bn (£17bn) to insure some 10 million children. | The vetoed bill proposed higher tobacco taxes to provide an extra $35bn (£17bn) to insure some 10 million children. |
| Children's health insurance is set to be a campaign issue in next year's elections, analysts say. | Children's health insurance is set to be a campaign issue in next year's elections, analysts say. |
| Eighteen Republican senators joined Democrats last week in passing the legislation by a 67-29 vote. | Eighteen Republican senators joined Democrats last week in passing the legislation by a 67-29 vote. |
| But the House of Representatives, which approved the bill by 265-159, was well short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto. | But the House of Representatives, which approved the bill by 265-159, was well short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto. |
| It is only the fourth time Mr Bush has used his veto power in the course of his presidency. | It is only the fourth time Mr Bush has used his veto power in the course of his presidency. |
| Public support | |
| The State Children's Health Insurance Programme (SCHIP) currently subsidises health care for some 6.6 million people, most of them children. | The State Children's Health Insurance Programme (SCHIP) currently subsidises health care for some 6.6 million people, most of them children. |
| Mr Bush had said he wanted only a $5bn increase in funding for the scheme. | |
| He argued that expanding its coverage further would encourage people currently covered in the private sector to switch to government coverage - and that was too costly. | |
| His decision to veto the bill is likely to prove unpopular with many people, however, correspondents say. | |
| A Washington Post/ABC News poll suggested that more than seven in 10 Americans supported the $35bn increase proposed in the bill. | |
| Democrats in the House say they will seek to persuade sufficient Republican congressmen to change sides to be able to override Mr Bush's veto. | |
| But House Republican leader Roy Blunt said he was "absolutely confident" that he would be able to prevent that happening. | |
| Many Republicans are likely to feel the pressure of public opinion ahead of congressional elections in November next year. |