House and Senate Pass Children’s Health Insurance Expansion, Paid For With Increased Cigarette Taxes

The House on August 1, 2007, by a vote of 225 to 204, and the Senate on August 2, 2007, by a vote of 68 to 31, approved the renewal and expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (HR 976). The House version includes a 45-cent cigarette tax increase and the Senate version includes a 61-cent cigarette tax increase. Differences in the two versions are expected to be resolved in conference after the August recess. President Bush has threatened to veto the legislation.