Bush vows to veto tobacco tax bill

LANDOVER, MD. (The Clarion-Ledger) — President Bush reiterated today his threat to veto Senate legislation that would substantially increase funds for children’s health insurance by levying a 61-cent-a-pack increase in the federal excise tax on cigarettes.

The tax increase would be used to subsidize health insurance for children and some adults with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid but not high enough to afford insurance on their own.

The renewal of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP, is considered by many to be the most important health legislation that Congress will take up this year.