Chuck Schumer calls for CHIP to be added to Obamacare stabilization bill

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged lawmakers on Wednesday to consider combining a popular government health insurance program for children with a yet-to-be-agreed-upon bill that would stabilize parts of Obamacare.

The New York Democrat called for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring the proposals to the Senate floor for a vote. The Senate Finance Committee voted Wednesday to advance a funding bill for the Children’s Health Insurance Plan, commonly known as CHIP, though lawmakers are still deciding how to fund it. Congress did not meet last week’s deadline for reauthorizing the bill, which must be done every five years, though states haven’t spent all the funding they received and some will not run out until March.