26 October 2007

They Voted For You: SCHIP II

West Virginia's U.S. House members all helped pass a new version of the State Children's Health Insurance Program bill Thursday - though it still lacks the veto-proof majority that doomed the previous version.

Reps. Alan Mollohan, D-1st, Shelley Moore Capito, R-2nd, and Nick Rahall, D-3rd voted with the majority in the 265-142 passage of the legislation.

As The Associated Press reports, the bill moves to the Senate.

Democrats argue they have "systematically addressed earlier complaints that the bill failed to place a priority on low-income children, did not effectively bar illegal immigrants from qualifying for benefits and was overly generous to adults," AP reports.

"Even so, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland raised the possibility that additional changes were possible before the bill would be sent to the White House."

AP also offers audio and video on the subject.

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