As expected, President Bush has vetoed the SCHIP expansion bill.

   UPDATE #5, 5:05 p.m.: Nick Jordan called back:

   Prime Buzz: Would you vote to sustain the veto?

   Jordan: "Probably, at this point. It's a hard call. It's a good question."

   PB: OK, but say you're a member of the House. You can't vote 'maybe.' Based on what you know now ...

   Jordan: "Based on what I know now, I would vote to sustain the veto."

   UPDATE #4: Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat: "The question is: Why would the president veto the Children’s Health Insurance Program but support Medicare Part D? Simple. The difference between the SCHIP program and Medicare Part D is that the insurance corporations and drug companies got a cut in Medicare Part D. When big corporations stood to profit, the president had no problem expanding insurance coverage even for multi-millionaires with Medicare Part D. But when low- and modest-income families can’t afford health care for their kids, he’s willing to leave them out in the cold."

   UPDATE #3: Rep. Dennis Moore, a Kansas Democrat: “I’m disappointed in the President’s decision to veto this important bill, which will make the SCHIP program stronger and more efficient to ensure that we provide health care to the children living in poverty who need our help the most.  I hope that my colleagues will join me in overriding this irresponsible veto.” 

   Rep. Sam Graves, a Missouri Republican:  "I believe that our priority with the State Children’s Heath Insurance Program ought to be enrolling children from low-income families who currently lack access to healthcare. That is why I support reauthorizing the program with an increase in funding."

   Kay Barnes, a Democratic House candidate in Missouri's 6th District: "I am very disappointed that President Bush has vetoed this critical piece of legislation that would provide health care insurance to millions of children, including at least 57,000 in Missouri."

   Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Missouri Democrat: "I do not get angry that often, but the President's rejection of providing health care for 11 million of our nation's poor children is baffling. This was a rare compromise, between the two parties passed by overwhelming majorities in both chambers. In a horrible, but telling bit of timing, the President vetoed the S-CHIP program only days after he asked Congress for $190 billion for another year of fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."

   UPDATE #2: Nick Jordan, Republican House candidate in Kansas' 3rd District: "To be honest with you, I don't know enough about the bill (to say if he would vote to sustain a veto). We do want to take care of the uninsured, but I'm not sure this is the best way to do it."

   UPDATE #1: Sen. Pat Roberts: "I  am extremely disappointed in the president’s veto of this bill. This is too bad, given what is at stake for our Kansas families. This legislation was a strong bipartisan compromise that nationally is expected to provide health care coverage to close to 4 million more low-income children who are currently uninsured. I urge my House colleagues to vote to override the president’s veto, and I stand ready with my colleagues in the Senate to do the same.”

   — David Goldstein contributed to this post.