The House voted 265-159 tonight for a $35-billion expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, but it didn’t come anywhere close to the two-thirds Democrats need to override President Bush’s veto. Speaker Nancy Pelosi couldn’t even hold her own party in line, losing eight Democrats who voted against the bill.

Congratulations must go out to House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R.-Mo.) and Chief Deputy Whip Eric Cantor (R.-Va.), who did an outstanding job whipping Republicans and making sure they held firm. With no hope for the Senate to sustain a veto — upwards of 69 senators could vote for the bill — the House was the only chance conservatives had to stop this slippery slope to government-run health care.

The bill now goes to Senate and then to Bush’s desk. He’ll veto it and Congress will be forced to pass a temporary extension of the program through mid-November. In that time, a group of Republicans hope to gain support for a real compromise — reauthorizing the program while offering tax credits to families.