Ten years ago, Senator Mitch McConnell supported the creation of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). And he supports reauthorizing the program now – a program that would insure children from low income families as the program was originally intended. What Senator McConnell opposes is expanding SCHIP to cover adults and children in families making more than $80,000 per year who can afford private health insurance. Some Democrats want to use the SCHIP program as a back door means to create a nationalized, government-run health care system. Just look at the facts below and watch the video response Senator McConnell issued today. Also take a moment to read Political Radar for more on this story.
Democrats Want To Use SCHIP To Create Nationalized, Government-Run Healthcare
SENATE FINANCE CHAIRMAN MAX BAUCUS (D-MT): “I think the Children's Health Insurance Program is another step to move toward universal coverage. Everyone realizes that the goal of this legislation moves us a giant step further down the road to nationalizing health care.”(Editorial, “Garden Statism”, The Wall Street Journal, 09/24/07)
THE MANCHESTER UNION LEADER: “Congress this year decided to expand coverage to families earning up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level, or $82,600 for a family of four. Also included: young, childless adults. SCHIP is no longer for children, or the poor. Congress is transforming it into a full-fledged middle-class entitlement.” (Editorial, “Insurance Scam: A Financial SCHIP Wreck”, The Manchester Union Leader, 09/25/07)
THE MANCHESTER UNION LEADER: “An estimated 60 percent of the children who would be newly covered already have private health insurance. Their parents will be able to drop private coverage and pick up subsidized coverage. The President offered to expand the program if states first covered 95 percent of eligible poor children, as many states do. Democrats balked, preferring instead to expand coverage to middle class families before making sure that eligible poor children are covered.” (Editorial, “Insurance Scam: A Financial SCHIP Wreck”, The Manchester Union Leader, 09/25/07)
THE MANCHESTER UNION LEADER: “This expansion is about nothing more than claiming middle-class votes for the Democratic Party. It would create a new middle-class entitlement when existing entitlement programs already have Washington on a collision course with financial ruin. President Bush should veto it, and fiscally responsible members of Congress … who voted for the SCHIP expansion -- should stand his decision.” (Editorial, “Insurance Scam: A Financial SCHIP Wreck”, The Manchester Union Leader, 09/25/07)
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: “President Bush reiterated his veto threat last week, not least because the $5 billion expansion he supports would pick up the remaining 689,000 uninsured kids that SCHIP was intended to serve. By contrast, Democrats want to expand SCHIP well beyond the original boundaries -- households at or below 200% of the federal poverty line, or $41,300 for a family of four -- and make it a middle-class entitlement. Many states like New Jersey have been taking advantage of SCHIP's "flexibility" and covering more affluent children, their parents, and even childless adults.” (Editorial, “Garden Statism”, The Wall Street Journal, 09/24/07)
