Americans hate Washington these days, and for good reason. The president and Congress can’t solve even the most obvious and pressing problems. The clearest example of their failure is SCHIP, a highly successful program providing health insurance to millions of children from poor and working-class families.

Polls show that three out of four voters support SCHIP (which stands for State Children’s Health Insurance Program). Forty-three governors, including 16 Republicans, back its expansion. Yet President Bush has vetoed one re-authorization bill and threatens to veto another.