WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush vetoed the government-run health insurance bill for poor children again, saying the measure "does not put poor children first."

In his communication to the House of Representatives, Bush said the State Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 "does not put poor children first and it moves our country's healthcare system in the wrong direction."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called Bush's action "sad," because "so many children in our country need access to quality healthcare."

In the message sent Wednesday, Bush called upon Congress to extend funding under the current program while working "to reauthorize the SCHIP program in a way that puts poor children first (and) moves adults out of a program meant for children."