REPUBLICANS COMPLAIN ABOUT SCHIP SHUTOUT

The Democrats have another plan about SCHIP. Even though their second version passed both houses a few weeks ago, the Democrats have not sent it to the President. They are still trying to win enough votes to override a Presidential veto. If they can't do that, they are thinking about just extending it until the end of the fiscal year, which will be September 30, 2008, then bringing it up again for a vote. The idea is that this would force Republicans to either back the Democrats version or vote against a popular bill. Democrats are pretty devious.

SCHIP WRECK

The Wall Street Journal has a post on the editorial page of today's edition talking about what Oregon voters did on Tuesday. Governor Ted Kulongoski and the State Legislature in Oregon wanted to broaden eligibility for Oregon's Healthy Kids Schip program to 300% of the federal poverty level. They would also allow all families to opt in, regardless of income. They intended to pay for it by expanding cigarette taxes. Democrats in the Legislature couldn't get the three-fifths approval required for a tax increase in the legislature, so they put the issue on the ballot. Well, the voters in Oregon resoundingly voted no. That should send a message to the Democrats in Washington, don't you think.

SENS. MARTINEZ, VOINOVICH INTRODUCE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE ALTERNATIVE

October 18, 2007 -

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Mel Martinez (R-FL) and George V. Voinovich (R-OH) today joined with House Republican Leaders and several members to introduce a bill to reauthorize and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The measure contains a full reauthorization of SCHIP, a $1,400 per child health care tax credit, and an aggressive outreach program to ensure all children eligible for the program have the opportunity to sign up for insurance. It also allows states to explore various efforts to reduce the number of uninsured and the cost of health care; improve quality and access to care and expand information technology.

“This bill gets the job done. It insures 10 million children and does it in a way that preserves and protects the quality of health care for all on the program,” said Martinez. “As Republicans and Democrats, we need to move forward with viable alternatives – this bill will ensure the reauthorization of an SCHIP that covers the intended population and expands private health insurance coverage for families in need.”

“We all want to cover more uninsured children but we should not unnecessarily increase a government program beyond its intent when the private sector is already providing coverage,” Sen. Voinovich said. “Our nation already invests $2 trillion in health care each year – it’s time to look at how we’re currently spending this money. Our bill looks at the big picture and finds ways to increase funding for SCHIP while using the tax code to insure millions of children. It also recognizes that, while health reform proposals are bottled up here at the federal level, states are in a unique position to demonstrate ways to do the job better. Our bill gives states the ability to examine various strategies to reduce the uninsured, lower costs and improve quality of care.”

It's estimated that between 500,000 and 1.5 million children are currently eligible for SCHIP coverage but are not enrolled simply because the families don't know the program exists. The bill encourages states to find innovative ways to identify and enroll that population.

Introducing the House version of the bill are Representatives Marilyn Musgrave (CO-4), Tom Price (GA-6), Tom Feeney (FL-24) and Tim Walberg (MI-7). There are currently more than 40 cosponsors including Minority Leader John Boehner (OH), Republican Whip Roy Blunt (MO), and Deputy Republican Whip Eric Cantor (VA).

Senate cosponsors include Senators Mel Martinez (FL), George Voinovich (OH), Jim DeMint (SC), Lindsey Graham (SC), John Cornyn (TX), John Thune (SD), Jeff Sessions (AL), Jim Inhofe (OK), and Saxby Chambliss (GA).

SINKING SCHIP: A DEFINING MOMENT

Michelle Malkin has an excellent article in Townhall.com about the SCHIP bill. In view of the House vote today, sustaining the President's veto of the bill, this is an especially important column to read.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS LIKELY TO UPHOLD VETO

The Washington Post is reporting that House Republicans are likely to uphold the President's veto on SCHIPS. Good for the House Republicans.

BARNES: A SINKING S-CHIP

Fred Barnes does a fantastic job pointing out how a biased poll question can cause the poll results to be skewered. In this case the question is one supposedly asked Republican voters about S-CHIP.

BUSH BRAVELY BATTLES A BLOATED SCHIP

Ruth Ann Dailey, writing for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette gives President Bush credit for vetoing SCHIP. She has an interesting perspective.

BUSH VETO FOR CHILD HEALTH BILL

BBC News has an interesting article about the President's veto of the child health bill. The BBC points out that the bill proposed higher tobacco taxes to provide an extra $35 billion. The Democratic controlled Congress wanted to expand the program by $35 billion, while the President proposed a $5 billion dollar increase. The President has said from the beginning that he is willing to negotiate with the Democrats, but they seem to be more intent on making it a political issue.

BUSH VETOES CHILD HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN

President Bush vetoed a bill that would have dramatically expanded children's health insurance. It was the fourth veto of Bush's presidency. The Senate approved the bill with enough votes to override the veto, but the margin in the House fell short of what is needed. President Bush said the country needs to put the poor kids first, also indicating that he does not want the federal government running the health care system.

SCHIP AND THE POLITICS OF PRINCIPLE

Thaddeus McCotter wrote a good article for Townhall.com. He argues that the SCHIP bill must be vetoed. As he points out this is a politically motivated bill advancing a government run health care system by arbitrarily spending $35 billion over the next five years. What I found interesting was his comparisons of the contrasts between the two parties guiding principles:

1. Republicans believe Americans are sovereign citizens. Democrats believe Americans are hapless victims.
2. Republicans believe the federal government must serve sovereign Americans. Democrats believe Americans must serve a sovereign federal government.
3. Republicans believe in reducing people's taxes. Democrats believe in raising people's taxes.
4. Republicans believe social programs exist to make poor people self-reliant. Democrats believe social programs exist to make all people state dependents.
5. Republicans want poor people to escape the welfare state. Democrats want all people inside the welfare state.
6. Republicans believe America needs a fiscally sound social safety net that temporarily helps poor people and respects taxpayers. Democrats believe America needs a big government trampoline that permanently traps poor people and impoverishes taxpayers.
7. Republicans believe a social program's success is measured by how many people have escaped from it. Democrats believe a social program's success is measured by how many people have been added to it.
8. Republicans believe government should not use taxpayers' money to unfairly compete against taxpaying businesses. Democrats believe government should use taxpayers' money to unfairly compete against taxpaying businesses.
9. Republicans believe in free enterprise and our citizenry. Democrats believe in the welfare state and its bureaucracy.

WHY THE PRESIDENT SHOULD VETO SCHIP

Fred Barnes has an article in the Weekly Standard in which he debunks the analogy used by many Presidential candidates, including Mitt Romney, comparing mandated health insurance to automobile insurance. As Barnes explains it, the health insurance proposals being talked about would all require everyone to have health insurance. The difference with car insurance, is that only those who own and operate vehicles are required to have it, and many of them drive without it, anyway.

BUSH TO PELOSI: I WILL VETO SCHIP

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi confirmed on Friday that President Bush reiterated to her that he intended to veto the SCHIP biill. Dana Perino, the President's press secretary, said that the President will veto the present bill, and that he then expects to be sent a reasonable bill, that a compromise can be reached on.

WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR SCHIP?

So the Democrats want to increase dramatically funding for Children's Health Coverage. They insist that it will be paid for. How? By increasing the tax on cigarettes. Guess who the vast majority of smokers in this country are? You got it - people with relatively little money and education.

The Congress wants to increase the federal cigarette tax by 156 percent, taking it to $1.00 per pack from the current 39 cents. Now, follow this convoluted logic. Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader says we are going to pay for this. In the long run, maybe it will stop people from smoking. Well, Harry, genius that you are, if people quit smoking, they won't be paying that 156% increase in the cigarette tax. So how will you pay for SCHIP?

REP ZACH WAMP: SCHIP IS AN ATTEMPT TO NATIONALIZE CARE

Tennessee Rep. Zach Wamp has an op-ed in the Tennessean in which he points out the reason that the State Children's Health Insurance Program was first adopted in 1997. The purpose of the bill was to bring health-care benefits to children of the working poor. The program was provided funding for ten years and needs to be renewed now. As Congressman Wamp says, he supported SCHIP in 1997 and supports renewing it now. But not in the present form, which is an attempt by the Democrats to begin the push toward nationalization of health care. One thing that Congressman Wamp points out that I have not heard anywhere else is that since the Democrats propose a 61-cent-per-pack increase in federal tobacco taxes, people need to understand what a bad policy it is to use a declining revenue stream to pay for a growing program.

VETO THIS BILL MR. PRESIDENT

Congress approved legislation expanding SCHIPS far beyond what the President requested. This is a step, as Senator McConnell noted, toward universal health care. VETO THIS BILL MR. PRESIDENT!!!!

THE NEW YORK POST: SINK THIS SCHIP

Michael F. Cannon wrote an op-ed in the New York Post in which he said SCHIP is a senseless program. The problem as Mr. Cannon sees it is that many families simply substitute SCHIP for private coverage. He also argues that SCHIP is not cost effective. I agree with him.

PORKERS OF THE MONTH

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) has named Max Baucus and Gordon Smith as the Porkers of the month. Check out the article. CAGW sees the SCHIP legislation that they are pushing as the first step in creating government controlled universal healthcare.