Dems Prep For SCHIP Redux

President Bush made a fresh entreaty to congressional Democrats on children’s health insurance, but the offer was too little, too late for party leaders prepared to vote Thursday on a new bill to expand the program.

The legislation (HR 3963) is identical to a measure Bush vetoed Oct. 3, except for a few changes designed to draw enough Republican support to win a second veto override vote. The House fell 13 votes short of an override Oct. 18.