House Passes S-CHIP Bill
By: Import User
Updated: January 15, 2009
(Washington, DC) -- The U.S. House has passed a sweeping children's health bill, which was vetoed twice by President Bush.
The vote was 289-139.
The S-CHIP bill is expected to be one of the first bills signed by new President Barack Obama after he takes office next week.
S-CHIP stands for State Children's Health Insurance Program.
The legislation expands the health insurance program for lower income children and is expected to cost more than 30-billion dollars over four-and-a-half years.
Passage of a similar measure is expected in the Senate soon.
In vetoing the S-CHIP bill twice, President Bush complained about the overall costs and a hike in cigarette taxes.
Bush also called it a step toward "government-run health care."
(Copyright 2009 by Newsroom Solutions)
