The WaPo reports Bush, Democrats Duel On Children's Insurance in the growing battle about children's health insurance:
. . .At issue is the State Children's Health Insurance Program, a program that subsidizes health coverage for low-income people, mostly children, in families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private coverage. Federal funding 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's majority Democrats, who scheduled it for a vote Tuesday in the House. It has substantial Republican support, as well. . . .
President Bush plans 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 is 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 say 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.
More on the SCHIP plan in Senate and House Reach Accord on Health Insurance for Children and some Republicans' disgust at the President's threat in Veto Threat Angers Republicans. Rolling out the old talking points about "government health care" seems to be the only thing some Republicans have whether it's SCHIP or adults who lack health care coverage. We're curious where the 4-pak seeking the GOP endorsement for the First stand: with sensible Republicans who want to cover kids, or with Bush.
Tim Walz, a strong supporter of SCHIP, has been targeted in attack ads placed in local newspapers by special-interest groups or the Republican National Committee (RNC).
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