Tuesday, 24 July 2007
Despite Veto Threat, Senate Committee Approves SCHIP Expansion
In a vote of 17 to 4, the Senate Finance Committee approved a major expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The measure would increase spending for the program $35 billion over the next 5 years. The bill is expected to go to the full Senate within the next 2 weeks.
The White House issued a statement recently stating President Bush will veto any legislation that expands SCHIP. They want to return the children’s program back to its original intention of providing health insurance for kids in families with incomes of up to 200% of the Federal poverty level.
The Bush administration contends expanding SCHIP deters people from buying private coverage — and that it also takes a step toward a government takeover of healthcare. But expanding SCHIP has widespread support from lawmakers from both sides of the aisle.
“I am proud to support this important bill, which will provide health insurance coverage to approximately four million more children who would otherwise be uninsured,” said Republican Kansas Senator Pat Roberts.
“The White House is very unrealistic if they think they can continue to do what we are doing now with just a $5 billion increase,” said Senator Charles Grassely, who is the Finance Committee’s senior Republican.
But Senator John Kyl, a Republican from Arizona, voted against the bill. He argued the legislation doesn’t have sufficient funding after 2012. Kentucky Senator Bill Bunning opposed the bill because it called for a 61 cent tobacco tax increase. Senator Bunning said the tax increase would cause roughly 16,000 tobacco farmers to go out of business.
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