Bush vows to veto kidsâ€™ health insurance bill

cat's meow · #1 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007, 04:00 PM

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Quote:

Bush vows to veto kids’ health insurance bill
President, Democrats clash over proposed legislation for poor children

WASHINGTON - President Bush again called Democrats "irresponsible" on Saturday for pushing an expansion he opposes to a children's health insurance program.

"Democrats in Congress have decided to pass a bill they know will be vetoed," Bush said of the measure that draws significant bipartisan support, repeating in his weekly radio address an accusation he made earlier in the week. "Members of Congress are risking health coverage for poor children purely to make a political point."

In the Democrat's response, also broadcast Saturday, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell turned the tables on the president, saying that if Bush doesn't sign the bill, 15 states will have no funding left for the program by the end of the month.

At issue is the Children's Health Insurance Program, a state-federal program that subsidizes health coverage for low-income people, mostly children, in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private coverage. It expires Sept. 30.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers announced a proposal Friday that would add $35 billion over five years to the program, adding 4 million people to the 6.6 million already participating. It would be financed by raising the federal cigarette tax by 61 cents to $1 per pack.

The idea is overwhelmingly supported by Congress' majority Democrats, who scheduled it for a vote Tuesday in the House. It has substantial Republican support as well.

‘The health of our children is far too important’
But Bush has promised a veto, saying the measure is too costly, unacceptably raises taxes, extends government-covered insurance to children in families who can afford private coverage, and smacks of a move toward completely federalized health care. He has asked Congress to pass a simple extension of the current program while debate continues, saying it's children who will suffer if they do not.

"Our goal should be to move children who have no health insurance to private coverage — not to move children who already have private health insurance to government coverage," Bush said.

The bill's backers have vigorously rejected Bush's claim it would steer public money to families that can readily afford health insurance, saying their goal is to cover more of the millions of uninsured children. The bill would provide financial incentives for states to cover their lowest-income children first, they said.

Many governors want the flexibility to expand eligibility for the program. So the proposal would overturn recent guidelines from the administration making it difficult for states to steer CHIP funds to families with incomes exceeding 250 percent of the official poverty level.

Rendell said thousands of children will lose health care coverage if Bush doesn't sign the bill.

"The administration has tried to turn this into a partisan issue and has threatened to veto. The health of our children is far too important for partisan politics as usual," he said. "If the administration is serious about solving our health care crisis, it should be expanding, not cutting back, this program which has made private health insurance affordable for millions of children."

© 2007 The Associated Press.

Still Dizzy · #2 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007, 04:20 PM

Well everything is there except the fact that it will also cover middle class children WHO ALREADY HAVE INSURANCE. The Dems also want to include income earners in the top 5%.
It is NOT a health insurance plan. It is a political ploy the Dems are playing on the backs of poor kids.

RASTAMAN · #3 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Still Dizzy

Well everything is there except the fact that it will also cover middle class children WHO ALREADY HAVE INSURANCE. The Dems also want to include income earners in the top 5%.
It is NOT a health insurance plan. It is a political ploy the Dems are playing on the backs of poor kids.

Wasn't the health insurance medical plan for America's poor children, going to be paid by adding a 61 cent sales tax on every pack of cigaretes sold!!!

satv365 · #4 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007, 10:49 PM

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Originally Posted by RASTAMAN

Wasn't the health insurance medical plan for America's poor children, going to be paid by adding a 61 cent sales tax on every pack of cigaretes sold!!!

Guess I need to buy from the Indian Reservation now or quit, cause the sheeple will certainly go for that garbage...

cat's meow · #5 (**permalink**) 09-23-2007, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RASTAMAN

Wasn't the health insurance medical plan for America's poor children, going to be paid by adding a 61 cent sales tax on every pack of cigaretes sold!!!

That is the funniest thing, it is an extra tax on cigerettes that has bi-partisan support in congress...this is one screwed up president and the propaganda his adiminstration puts out is amazing.

So now Bush is taking up the flag for smokers?

theleftisright · #6 (**permalink**) 09-23-2007, 02:58 PM

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Originally Posted by cat's meow

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And the objection ?

“The plan might accidentally cover those on the margins, who already have health insurance”

So what is the issue here, we need to deny those who CANT afford heath insurance, because a small number of those on the bubble, might qualify for the plan, and jeopardized the profits of the insurance companies ?

Oh well then,,,,I guess that explains it huh ?

Gee, since those on the “margins” might qualify for this, I don’t suppose anyone considered the possibility that whet they had been paying in Insurance premiums, will now be discretionary income and or savings , which benefit’s the economy ?

NAHHHHHHHHHHH….lets just make sure we follow the rules laid down by idiot daytime AM talk radio !

#7 (**permalink**) 09-24-2007, 12:11 PM

The scope of the program was to help poor children get healthcare. But many believed that this was just an in to further pursue the logic of socialized healthcare. This would not be the first time a government program tranformed from a little program to a 10 pound gorilla.

First step is to start the program under the pretense it is for the poor children.

Second step is to expand the program to include most middle class children.

Third step is to include all children in the program.

Fourh step well there may not be a need for a fourth step. Once you get enough of the polpulance on government healthcare. They will soon demand it once they reach Voting age and above..

Talk about legislative atrition.....

Dom1 · #8 (**permalink**) 09-24-2007, 12:19 PM

The reason for the threatened veto is because the bill extends to children of parents who are hardly in the poor category. The Dems KNEW the bill as written would get vetoed and that is why they tried to push it forward. They had no intention of this bill ever passing because they were adding many people to the coverage who have no problem with obtaining and paying for health insurance in the first place. Find out who would be covered from the bill before making and false assumptions.

Dom1 · #9 (**permalink**) 09-24-2007, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10 pound gorilla

The scope of the program was to help poor children get healthcare. But many believed that this was just an in to further pursue the logic of socialized healthcare. This would not be the first time a government program tranformed from a little program to a 10 pound gorilla.

First step is to start the program under the pretense it is for the poor children.

Second step is to expand the program to include most middle class children.

Third step is to include all children in the program.

Fourh step well there may not be a need for a fourth step. Once you get enough of the polpulance on government healthcare. They will soon demand it once they reach Voting age and above..

Talk about legislative atrition.....

They were combining one and two together because they knew it would be vetoed. They could have passed it if they just focused on poor kids. Politics was more important to them in this case.

theleftisright · #10 (**permalink**) 09-24-2007, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10 pound gorilla

The scope of the program was to help poor children get healthcare. But many believed that this was just an in to further pursue the logic of socialized healthcare. This would not be the first time a government program tranformed from a little program to a 10 pound gorilla.

First step is to start the program under the pretense it is for the poor children.

Second step is to expand the program to include most middle class children.

Third step is to include all children in the program.

Fourh step well there may not be a need for a fourth step. Once you get enough of the polpulance on government healthcare. They will soon demand it once they reach Voting age and above..

Talk about legislative atrition.....

You mean there are people who want to be sure all americans have quality healthcare ??

Those bastards !