Guide Note

The State Children's Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) is a national program that provides health insurance to families that do not qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford to purchase health insurance.

Fast Facts

1. Created in 1997
2. Sponsored by Ted Kennedy and Orrin Hatch
3. Both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate passed an expansion of the SCHIP in 2007
4. October 3, 2007: President Bush vetoes the measure
5. Between October 3rd and 18th, Democrats launched a grassroots television and radio publicity campaign to persuade fifteen Republicans to cross party lines to override the veto
6. October 18, 2007: Democrats fall short in overriding the veto

George W. Bush vetoed the 2007 bill to expand funding for SCHIP from $5 billion per year to $12 billion. The President had the goal to increase the budget by only 20% or find the extra funding through other methods.¹