Well this is interesting. Rob Bluey reports that Republicans are rallying around an alternative to the massive Democratic expansion of SCHIP.

Sens. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) and George Voinovich (R-Ohio) will join Reps. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.), Tom Price (R-Ga.), Tom Feeney (R-Fla.) and Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) to introduce an alternative to the Democrats’ $35-billion expansion. The lawmakers plan an afternoon news conference in the Capitol around the time of the veto vote.

Their alternative, based on a proposal crafted by the Heritage Foundation, consists of three elements:

1) A full reauthorization of SCHIP. The program would continue to cover children in families with incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level;

2) A child health care tax credit. Rather than putting more people on a government-run program, the legislation advances tax credits to families with incomes between 200% and 300% of the poverty level; and

3) A health care “federalism” initiative. This piece would complement both the reauthorization and the tax changes in expanding health care coverage, and would encourage even more dramatic health care experimentation at the state level with different approaches to coverage expansion.

Several Democrats, including Madame Speaker, have supported the idea of a tax credit, and other Democrats have introduced legislation favoring more of a “federalism” approach. But will Democrats accept this legislation without the expansion to 400% of the poverty level?

Rob also points out that Democrats have thus far failed to actually talk with Republicans about an alternative, but now that public opinion polls and votes don’t seem to be on their side, Republicans hope to get their proposal heard.

H/t Michelle Malkin.