House Fails to Override Veto of SCHIP/Tobacco Tax Legislation

On October 18, 2007, the House, by a vote of 273 to 156, failed to override a presidential veto of the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (HR 976). The Administration and Congressional leaders have indicated that they will try to work on a compromise. Additional funding for the insurance program as proposed had been paid for with a 61-cent increase in the federal tax on cigarettes as well as tax increases on other tobacco products.