Maine’s congressional delegation was united in its criticism of President Bush on Wednesday for vetoing a bipartisan children’s health insurance bill.

The measure was aimed at adding $35 billion to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program over five years. The program subsidizes health coverage for 6.6 million people, mostly children, who live in families earning too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford their own private coverage.

Bush argued that the congressional plan would be a move toward socialized medicine by expanding the program to higher-income families. He wanted a modest expansion of $5 billion.

Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe said she was “deeply troubled” by the veto.

“Compromise on both sides of the aisle helped us create this program 10 years ago and it is disheartening that the president has vetoed this bipartisan legislation that is needed to provide vital healthcare services to America’s children,” she said.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins was more blunt, calling the veto a “terrible mistake” that allows low-income children to fall through the cracks.

“I will vote to override the President’s veto,” she said.

Democratic Rep. Mike Michaud called the veto a “blow to working families” and said the issue is “too important to play politics with.”

Democratic Rep. Tom Allen said Bush’s veto represented a broken campaign promise. “I deeply regret that the President has decided to ignore large bipartisan majorities in both houses of Congress and the overwhelming support of the American people,” he said.

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