"It doesn't happen very often when people change their mind on an issue," the Oklahoma Democrat said, adding that he wanted to share his new position with voters. "I just had a real change of heart."

Boren said that change occurred not because of lobbying from any particular group or even Democratic leaders but because he took some time to think about the millions who would not be insured without the bill.

"I don't want to be the one to stop this program from going forward," he said.

Boren voted last week against the bill, which passed the House 265 to 159, because of his concerns over what he saw as a disproportionate burden on tobacco taxes, a revenue stream that he also views as unreliable.

He also questioned the proposed expansion of the bill, which took it beyond its original mission.

Created initially in the 1990s, the program was designed to provide coverage for children whose families made too much to qualify for Medicaid but still could not afford private insurance.

The proposed expansion would allow states to seek waivers to cover families whose incomes are several times the poverty level.

Bush has promised to veto the bill because of its five-year, $35 billion price tag, which he believes is too costly; its reliance on higher tobacco taxes; and the concern that expanding it would encourage more families to drop private coverage in favor of a government program.

Despite the president's veto threat, the Senate passed the bill with enough votes to override Bush.

The House vote, however, fell about two dozen votes short of the two-thirds needed.

"There is definitely a chance," Boren said of the prospect that supporters of the bill could round up enough votes in the House to override a Bush veto.

"I wouldn't say I'm overly optimistic."

Jim Myers (202) 484-1424
jim.myers@tulsaworld.com