By Tom Weber, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri says she hopes there can be brief bi-partisanship in Congress to expand the children's health insurance program called S-CHIP.
President Bush has said he'll veto the Senate version because it's too expensive, but McCaskill says it's a program that works.
"You've got a president who has not lifted a pinky finger to help in terms of health care while he's been president. The idea that we can't do this basic program to help children with health care, I think, is outrageous," said McCaskill.
The Senate version would be paid for through higher federal cigarette taxes. Democrats in the House proposed their own $50 billion plan this week; it would be paid for by lowering reimbursement rates for doctors who treat Medicare patients.