The U.S. House of Representatives this week failed to override President George Bush's veto of a State Children's Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) funding plan that would have raised federal tobacco taxes, the New York Times reported Jan. 23.

The 260-152 vote in favor of override fell short of the two-thirds majority required. The measure, which had the support of many Democrats but also some Republicans, would have extended health insurance to up to 10 million low- and moderate-income children.

Bush said the plan would have provided coverage to families who could afford to pay for healthcare on their own and represented a step toward government-run healthcare.