Back to the OP.
The Senate is debating the S-CHIP bill this week and according to the top Republican sponsor, it could get a veto-proof majority.
Quote:
Grassley, one of the leading Republican sponsors of the bill, said he thinks supporters have the 60 votes needed to stop procedural moves and even hinted at the possibility of a veto-proof margin. “We think we’ve counted around 64, or 65 . . . and maybe with some help on a little problem with the cigarette tax, we can pick up a couple more.” Grassley didn’t elaborate on what the problem was. The legislation provides for a 61-cents-a-pack increase in the federal tax on cigarettes, and also provides for tax increases on other tobacco products, including cigars.
“We’re talking about 64 on cloture,” he said. “I think we’re going to get more on final passage.”
Grassley added that if GOP leaders don’t try to hold the level of support below the 67 votes needed to override a veto, the measure could get as many as 70 votes. The White House has taken a strong stance against congressional passage of the legislation, however, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is pushing for adoption of a much more scaled down SCHIP reauthorization bill than the measure approved by the Senate Finance Committee.
http://public.cq.com/docs/hb/hbnews1...002563294.html
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A truly bi-partisan bill. The debate should be interesting in that the Democrats have allowed other unrelated tax amendments to be considered.