An attempt by the Republicans to make the extension of government-sponsored health insurance to children of legal immigrants difficult in the US has been defeated by the Senate.

According to reports the move by the GOP was rejected via a voice vote.

If the amendment had succeeded it would have required states to extend health coverage to vast majority of other low-income children first before covering legal immigrants.

The vote followed a debate on legislation to boost spending on the State Children’s Health Insurance Programme (SCHIP) by $31.5 billion (£23.8bn).

Reports quoted Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, saying that if states covered 95 per cent of children already eligible for government-sponsored coverage, only then would his amendment allow them to insure children of newly arrived legal immigrants.

Arguing against the amendment, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont, posited that no state could meet Hatch’s criteria, adding that it would mean no state would be able to cover legal immigrants using federal funds.