House Fails to Override SCHIP Veto

Greg Sargent:

It's over: The House just voted on the SCHIP bill moments ago, and failed to override President Bush's veto.

The vote was 273-156, falling short of the two-thirds vote needed to overturn Bush's veto.

Incredibly, despite polls showing strong majority support for a veto override, and an aggressive ad campaign targeting Republicans on SCHIP, the GOP was remarkably successful in holding the line and sustaining Bush's veto. Only forty-four Republicans voted for the bill -- almost exactly the same as last time, save for GOP Rep. Pete King, a bill supporter who was absent this time. One-hundred and fifty-four GOPers voted against it.

The roll call is here.

Eight Democrats voted against it—Dan Boren (OK), Kathy Castor (FL), Bob Etheridge (NC), Baron Hill (IN), Dennis Kucinich (OH), Jim Marshall (GA), Mike McIntyre (NC), and Gene Taylor (MS). One Democrat answered present—Diane Watson (CA). Three Democrats didn't vote—Julia Carson (IN), William Delahunt (MA), and Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX).

They needed 289 votes to override the veto. If those 12 Dems had voted with the majority, they still would have been four votes short.

The roll call at which I was looking wasn't final or something, I guess. Two Dem nays—Jim Marshall (GA) and Gene Taylor (MS). Two not voting—Julia Carson (IN) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX).