It looks like Democrats are making modifications designed to pick up the votes to override a second veto of the SCHIP children's health insurance bill. It would be a major political and policy victory, but there's a downside that isn't well understood. Expanding SCHIP would make the status quo more acceptable to moderate Republicans, which would in turn make it more difficult to pass a comprehensive universal coverage plan in 2009. Democrats need to pick up multiple seats in the Senate or the plans like those proposed by Obama, Edwards, and Clinton will die at the hands of a filibuster.
Update 10/25 9:20 PM: I spoke too soon -- Democrats didn't pick up any votes on their second try. The Washington Post's Paul Kane concludes that "Democrats are almost out of political room to squeeze more votes to surmount the veto-proof majority." It looks like they will make a political play instead:
The Senate will probably approve the revised bill next week. There is a veto-proof majority in favor of the bill in the Senate, but today’s vote in the House, as well as last week’s, signal that it will sustain Mr. Bush’s veto again.
If that happens, Democrats said, they may extend the existing insurance program for children through next summer. They would then schedule another vote on the issue in September or October, in the hope of inflicting maximum political damage on Republicans just before the 2008 elections.
Comments