Bill Manzi.com

With 273 votes, including 44 Republicans, the override of the Bush veto on SCHIP failed in the House of Representatives yesterday. Democrats pledged to bring the bill back with only minor changes, and it appears that if those changes are made additional Republicans may support the bill. What are those changes? From the Washington Post.

The new version will probably give Republicans some face-saving alterations but no substantive change. Democratic leaders suggested that they could add language clarifying that the program would not cover families with incomes above 300 percent of the federal poverty level, or about an annual income of about $60,000 for a family of four. And they would tighten language to ensure that the children of illegal immigrants would not receive benefits.

Rank and file Republicans, eager to put this issue behind them, seem ready to deal.

Republicans sent signals that minor changes may be all that will be needed, if not for the president’s signature, then for the votes of balking House members. Rep. Joe L. Barton (Tex.), the ranking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said the emphasis should be strictly on covering low-income children.

“We don’t think illegal aliens should be covered, and we don’t think that over time adults should be covered,” Barton said. “There are some states that cover more adults than children.”

Four moderate Republicans sent Pelosi a letter outlining what they thought could win passage, including a cap at 300 percent of the poverty level, a phasing out of eligibility for some adults and an expressed prohibition on covering illegal immigrants. “The modifications needed are relatively modest,” said Rep. Heather A. Wilson (R-N.M.).

Negotiations will now begin, but the President’s role could be marginalized if Speaker Pelosi can peel off enough Republican support through minor modification of the bill. She has laid down a political marker on these negotiations.

While Pelosi is willing to talk to Bush, she stressed that Democrats will accept nothing less than an expansion to 10 million children. “That’s not negotiable,” she said.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is stepping up the pressure in some swing House Districts currently Republican, and I think that after all is said and done there will be enough Republican support to override a Presidential veto. Congresswoman Niki Tsongas voted in favor of the override.

Link to the Washington Post article here.

Today’s Washington Post has a story detailing the real results of the continuing funding battle over the State Children’s Health Insurance program. The House on Thursday will attempt an override of the President’s veto, but it does not appear that the votes are there to succeed. (Niki Tsongas has said she will vote to override, Jim Ogonowski will not say how he will vote). From the Post:

At current funding levels, 21 states would run out of money before the end of the fiscal year next September, according to the Congressional Research Service.

In California, which would run out in June, state SCHIP director Lesley Cummings on Friday recommended adopting emergency regulations that would allow state officials to establish a waiting list and a process for cutting off some of the 830,000 children on the state’s $1.3 billion-a-year program.

In Louisiana, as many as 37,000 of the 111,000 children on SCHIP might have to be cut to keep the program afloat, said J. Ruth Kennedy, the state’s SCHIP director. In Georgia, which already has an enrollment cap of 295,000, officials are considering tightening eligibility requirements, reducing enrollment and limiting dental benefits, said Rhonda Medows, commissioner of Georgia’s Department of Community Health.

The Administration responded with Secretary Leavitt:

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said the department has been working with governors of 49 states to make sure that no one loses coverage.

“I know that there are states out there who in the future could have problems if we don’t get this solved,” Leavitt said.

And so the political deadlock has real consequences. And the race in the Fifth Congressional might impact the success or failure of the override attempt in the House. Regardless of claim you can rest assured that candidate Ogonowski will vote to sustain the President’s veto if elected. There is a real difference here, despite Mr. Ogonowski’s attempt to politically mute that difference.