WASHINGTON — For the second time in three months, the House failed Wednesday to override President Bush’s veto of a bill that would greatly increase spending on a popular children’s health insurance program.
Democrats fell 15 votes shy of obtaining the two-thirds majority for an override. The final vote was 260-152, with 42 Republicans siding with Democrats.
The result was expected, even as override supporters pointed to the slowing economy as a reason to spend another $35 billion on the State Children’s Health Insurance Program over five years.
“Hardworking American families are struggling and in dire need of assistance,” said Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C.
But Republicans held strong in their opposition to the spending increase. They said Congress had already set aside enough funding to ensure that current SCHIP enrollees could continue coverage through March 2009.
