House Passes Revised SCHIP/Tobacco Tax Legislation

On October 25, 2007, the House, by a vote of 265 to 142, passed a revised Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Bill of 2007 (HR 3963). The previous legislation (HR 976) was vetoed by President Bush on October 3, 2007. Although revisions were designed to attract a veto-proof majority to the legislation, the vote the legislation actually received in the House was not a veto proof margin. Additional funding for the insurance program as proposed is still paid for with a 61-cent increase in the federal tax on cigarettes as well as tax increases on other tobacco products. The Administration renewed its veto threat – this time mentioning the tax increase included in the legislation.