Democrats are moving swiftly to pass a new SCHIP bill today in hopes of swaying enough Republicans to ensure a veto-proof margin in the House. The Democrats’ maneuver comes as nearly a dozen Republicans have headed home to California to survey the damage caused by wildfires this week.

The Democrats’ quick response after a losing a vote last week to override President Bush’s veto signals their belief that enough Republicans might swallow the minor changes to the $35-billion expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.

In reality, however, the new SCHIP bill actually differs little from the version that Bush vetoed. Democrats have made small tweaks, but the bill itself still costs the same and relies on a tobacco tax to fund the expansion. Among the other problem that still remain:

1) It still raises the general federal income eligibility for SCHIP to 300% of the federal poverty level (an increase from the current 200 % level).

2) It still covers adults, just in new ways either directly through Medicaid or through a new funding mechanism (that is more generous than Medicaid).

3) It still crowds-out private coverage. New Congressional Budget Office estimates show that more than 2 million kids would move from private coverage to government coverage.

4) It still expands the program to “new” populations. New CBO estimates show 1.1 million would be newly eligible.

5) It still waters down citizenship verification requirements made in the Deficit Reduction Act.