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Friday, September 28, 2007
Round-Up: Senate Votes on CR, SCHIP, Debt Limit
Continuing Resolution Adopted:
By 94-1, the Senate voted late yesterday to keep the government operating through Nov. 16, adopting an FY 2008 continuing resolution (CR) which will fund government programs at fiscal 2007 levels. The CR keeps funds flowing to federal programs whose authorizations lapse Sept. 30, including food stamps, the Federal Aviation Administration and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. As we noted, House passed the CR on Wednesday, 404-14.
Debt Limit Increased:
The Senate voted 53-42 to send President Bush legislation (H.J.Res. 43, $) that would raise the government's debt limit to nearly $10 trillion. The bill would boost the statutory debt limit by $850 billion to $9.815 trillion. The House passed the measure automatically, without a roll call vote, when Congress adopted the fiscal 2008 budget resolution earlier this year. The Senate has no similar rule for automatic action. We're advocating reform on debt-related legislation.
SCHIP Extension Passed, Veto Expected:
As we expected, the Senate approved a bill to expand the Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), on a 67-29 -- i.e., veto-proof -- vote. President Bush has promised to veto the measure, which would expand the program by $35 billion over the next five years, to $60 billion. The expansion would be financed by tobacco tax increases, including a 61-cent increase in the cigarette tax, to $1 per pack. The 265-159 House vote on Tuesday was not sufficient to override a veto. Supporters acknowledge that the measure does not have enough Republican support in the House for an override. But it is backed by a broad range of interest groups, including those representing insurers (America's Health Insurance Plans), doctors (the American Medical Association), seniors (AARP) and consumers (Families USA), and Senate Finance ranking member Charles Grassley (R-IA) who helped write the bill said yesterday, "We're going to try to see if we can convince people in the House to change their vote."
Posted by Dana Chasin
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