posted on September 27, 2007 09:27:36 AM new
Dems to Bush on health: Try 'right side of history'
by Mark Silva
As the Senate today prepares to adopt a major expansion of government-financed children's health care that the House already has approved -- and which President Bush vows to veto -- Democratic leaders are calling on Bush to get "on the right side of history.''
Since the State Children's Health Insurance Program was enacted in 1997 -- with the federal government paying 75 percent of the cost and states 25 percent -- about 6.6 million children of lower-income families have been enrolled. Congressional Democratic leaders, with the support of many Republicans, are offering coverage for another 3.8 million by allowing families earning up to three times the federal poverty level, $62,000 for a family of four, to enroll.
Bush calls it a "federalization'' of health care and vows to veto the bill.
"This has been a bipartisan commitment to make sure that our children are covered in America,'' Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) said at a Capitol press conference just now. Calling the Senate vote today "a historic vote... a bipartisan vote,'' he called on Bush to reconsider a veto.
"Regrettably, President Bush has until now threatened a veto of this important children’s initiative, and he does this claiming that this is somehow a federalization of health care,'' Kerry said. "We’d ask him what he thinks the VA program is...We’d ask him what he thinks Medicare is.’’
The White House maintains that Bush "strongly supports health care for children'' and backs a $5 billion increase in the program known as S-CHIP. The congressional plan is estimated to cost an additional $35 billion over five years, financed by an increase in cigarette taxes.
"Unfortunately, the House of Representatives (has) passed S-CHIP legislation that pushes many children who now have private coverage into a government-run system, part of the Democrats' incremental plan toward government-run health care for all Americans,'' White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said this week. "The bill also moves SC-HIP away from its original intent of covering poor children.
"As a result, the president will veto this legislation,'' she said.
Calling on Bush to reconsider, Kerry today said, "There is time yet for the president to make a smart decision here… We ask the president to be on the right side of history and not stand up ideologically and partisanly''
Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island said: "This legislation is an economic imperative… How can we expect children to go to school and learn if they are in poor health?… It’s also a moral imperative. We’re asking for the children of America what many take for granted, that their children have health care.''
Noting that the expense is "offset'' by new cigarette taxes, he said: "“It is not deficit spending… It is both responsible policy and responsible fiscal policy.
"It does not federalize health care insurance or lead to socialized medicine,'' Reed said. "I believe, along with my colleagues, that the president should reconsider his veto.''
Bush can spend billions on the war and helping foreigners but when it comes to people at home, Bush can care less. Bush wants to extend the "No Child left Behind Act" (which he has properly funded in the first place" but he wont allow children to have proper health care.
"In my experience, those who do not like you fall into two categories: the stupid, and the envious. - John Wilmot, the Second Earl of Rochester
posted on September 27, 2007 02:10:55 PM new
President Bush Participates in Roundtable on Health Care
"I'm proud to be with small business owners. I understand the role of small businesses in our society. We have worked to reduce taxes on small businesses because we want you to grow. And the fact that you are growing across the country collectively is one reason why our economy is so strong. And this economy is doing well. The unemployment rate is 4.5 percent. Small businesses are growing. People are working. Stock market is up. Inflation is down. And we're going to keep it that way
. One way you keep it that way is to have good health care policy emanating out of Washington, and another is to keep taxes low. And that's what we're going to do."
-- President George W. Bush
July 18, 2007
Five Key Myths About President Bush's Support For SCHIP Reauthorization
MYTH #1: President Bush's proposal would not help poor children.
FACT: The President strongly supports SCHIP reauthorization and his 2008 budget proposed to increase SCHIP funding by $5 billion over five years. This is a 20 percent increase over current levels of funding.
FACT: The President's proposal maintains SCHIP's original purpose of targeting dollars to poor children who need them most.
MYTH #2: Cost is the only reason for President Bush's veto threat.
FACT: There are numerous problems with Congress's SCHIP bill. In addition to raising spending by $35 to $50 billion, the legislation:
Turns a program meant to help poor children into one that covers children in some households with incomes of up to $83,000 a year.
Would move millions of American children who now have private health insurance into government-run health care.
Is an incremental step toward the Democrats' goal of a government-run health care system.
Raises taxes on working Americans.
Relies on a budget gimmick that drops SCHIP funding by almost 80 percent in year six, masking future deficits and ultimately resulting in a choice between higher taxes or forcing millions of children to lose health insurance.
Creates new funding schemes inviting states to overspend their budgets and shift health care costs to the Federal government by using SCHIP funding to offset state Medicaid spending.
Provides incentives to states to relax protections against enrolling ineligible individuals, including illegal immigrants.
MYTH #3: President Bush is wrong in claiming the Senate SCHIP bill would cover children in some households with incomes of up to $83,000 per year (400 percent of the Federal poverty level).
FACT: The Senate bill grandfathers in New York at a higher SCHIP match rate than the rest of the country – allowing SCHIP to cover children in some households with incomes of up to $83,000 per year.
[ edited by Linda_K on Sep 27, 2007 02:12 PM ]
posted on September 27, 2007 02:14:27 PM new
"Democratic leaders, with the support of many Republicans, are offering coverage for another 3.8 million by allowing families earning up to three times the federal poverty level, $62,000 for a family of four, to enroll."
No wonder Bush is gonna veto. $62,000...that would cover the majority of the population wouldn't it? I believe the avg household income is in the $40s.
Just another step towards getting socialized medicine for all enacted.
No need to insure those children who already have insurance through their parents coverage. Nor those making enough money to pay their own children's way.
It's NOT taxpayers responsibility to insure children whose parents CAN cover them already by themselves. NO reason.
And the SCHIPS program was NEVER meant to cover anyone but the very poor. But like everything, liberals continue pushing the limits.
The good thing at this point is that the President has vowed to veto this bill, if it passes both Houses. And so far, they don't have enough to override his veto.
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"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
Ann Coulter
[ edited by Linda_K on Sep 27, 2007 03:45 PM ]
