Another Vote On SCHIP Today

You've got to like any article that describes the Republicans as, "taken by surprise," and where they, "excoriated Democratic leaders":

Just one week after failing to override President Bush's veto, House Democrats will put a new version of their $35 billion expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program to a vote today, hoping that minor changes will win enough Republicans to beat Bush this round.  [...]

At a contentious House GOP meeting with Leavitt on Tuesday night, wavering Republicans pledged that they would stand with the president. But others quietly voiced concerns that the SCHIP showdown is taking a toll on their political prospects.

Decisions, decisions.  Vote for a bill that has the overwhelming support of the American people or stand with Mr. 24% and endanger your own job security?  What's a rubber stamp Republican to do?

Update [2007-10-25 8:51:44 by DemFromCT]: In related SCHIP news:  

Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) said she believed Democratic lawmakers would be willing to cap eligibility at three times the federal poverty level. She also said the modified bill would give states greater authority to confirm the validity of applicants' Social Security numbers in an effort to confirm U.S. residency status (Babington/Freking, AP/Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/24)...

Dingell Letter
In related news, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair John Dingell (D-Mich.) in a letter to Leavitt on Tuesday took issue with the administration's claim that the original bill would have expanded SCHIP eligibility to families earning up to 400% of the poverty level, or about $83,000. That eligibility limit was requested by New York state and was rejected by the administration. Democrats "seethed" when Bush then cited that figure as an example, according to The Hill.

In his letter, Dingell asked Leavitt to highlight the passage of the vetoed bill that the administration claims would extend eligibility to 400% of the poverty level. Dingell also disputed the claim that the cigarette tax would unfairly impact lower-income residents, citing government data finding that 60% of adult smokers have incomes above 200% of the poverty level (The Hill, 10/24).

The problem for the GOP is that an expedited vote gives them less time to lie about what's in the bill.