"By putting money into children's health, we're really saving money over the long term," Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, told reporters outside the Senate office buildings. "We as a great nation owe it to our children to ensure they have adequate care."

The Senate is nearing a vote to pass a $35 billion increase to the Children's Health Insurance Program over five years, on top of the $25 billion base for the legislation. The House Democrats, meanwhile, want a $50 billion increase over five years and the Bush administration is warning the president may veto the legislation if it includes more than a $5 billion boost.

Senators pushing the reauthorization said politics shouldn't play a part in the debate over children's health care.

"No matter where you stand in the Senate chamber, you can stand up for kids in need," said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.

Several children held handmade signs in front of the television cameras near the Capitol on Tuesday to illustrate the need for bringing the CHIP program back. "1 in 9 children in the U.S. is uninsured. Will you HELP?!" read one boy's sign.

Hatch said he hasn't spoken to his Senate colleague from Utah, Bob Bennett, who voted to move forward on the CHIP legislation but who has expressed concerns with the current legislation. Bennett wants the program to return to its core purpose of helping children. The current program allows waivers to cover some adults.

Hatch added that he is concerned with the House plan because it goes too far in boosting the program's cost and that he would fight to keep the compromised price tag of $35 billion for the increase.

"If they do too much, we'll have to try and stop it," he said about potential negotiations between the House and Senate.

"If we don't take care of these kids, we're going to reap a whirlwind of problems," Hatch said.

tburr@sltrib.com