WASHINGTON — President Bush still is likely to veto a $35 billion compromise on children's health insurance that lawmakers produced Friday, said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, even though he worked to get the compromise.

House and Senate negotiators agreed to reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at $35 billion for the next five years. Bush and Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt have made it clear they do not support that funding level.

"I wish the president would quit saying that he'll veto it," Hatch said.

The CHIP program expires Sept. 30 unless Congress moves to renew it. Hatch said the House and Senate are likely to take up the bill next week but may not have the votes to override a veto.

Hatch said that what is more likely to occur is at least a one-month extension of the program so differences between Congress and the White House can be worked out.

"We know we have a program that works, but we do have limited funds," Hatch said. "It's uphill for us, but it's a battle we have to raise."

The White House is stressing that Bush wants the CHIP program renewed and wants to increase its current level by $5 billion over five years, but Bush wants it to target poor children. The compromise includes some children in levels above the poverty line.

The fight over the health legislation is dripping with political bickering as the White House issued a statement Friday saying that "Congress is irresponsibly waiting until just before SCHIP expires on September 30 to pass a final bill they know will be vetoed."

"Democrats have known for months that President Bush would veto a bill like the one they intend to send him," according to the White House.

A presidential veto would send the measure back to both chambers for an override vote. Observers say the Senate has enough votes to overturn a Bush veto, but Republicans are confident that they have the necessary votes in the House to sustain the president's veto. The original House bill passed by only 225-204.

"We are hopeful that the president will reconsider his veto threat and sign this bill into law on behalf of all our nation's children," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday in a press statement.

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Contributing: McClatchy Newspapers

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