Kids' Health Care Bill Heads for 2nd Veto

The Senate yesterday passed a revised S-CHIP bill that would provide health insurance for 10 million underprivileged children, CNN reports, but President Bush has vowed a second veto because it raises tobacco taxes. The bill passed 64-30, with high-profile Republicans such as Charles Grassley joining the majority.

Like the first try, the bill would expand funding for the program by $35 billion over 5 years, and it also lacks the two-thirds majority required to override a veto. But Senate Finance Committee chair Max Baucus told Reuters that Congress was making progress on a veto-proof compromise bill.