The bill Bush vetoed would not change the current procedure, and would discourage states from expanding SCHIP to families making more then three times the federal poverty level—$61,950 for a family of four. Under current law, only the president can authorize states to use SCHIP to cover families earning $83,000.

SCHIP was designed to give states flexibility—within reasonable limits—to set their own standards, meet their needs, and adapt to their cost of living and insurance.

Of the families enrolled in SCHIP, the vast majority (86 percent) were uninsured at the time they enrolled. Most of the remaining families who dropped private insurance in favor of SCHIP did so because their plan was so expensive, they could not afford to properly cover their children. No one satisfied with their current insurance is required to join SCHIP.

People who are in the country illegally are still banned from receiving SCHIP benefits.

Unlike conservatives, a majority of Americans believe our government should play a role in guaranteeing health insurance for all, especially the 8.7 million children who today have no health insurance. And SCHIP is a government initiative that has proven effective in covering children. Thanks to SCHIP, America’s children are more widely covered than adults. It’s just common sense to expand what we know works.