Bush On The Air: The S-CHIP Veto
October 6, 2007, 3:57pm
As promised, President Bush this week vetoed legislation that would expand a program that provides health insurance to poor children. He defended the veto in his weekly radio address today, arguing that Congress sent him a “deeply flawed bill” that would move beyond the original purpose of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
“Under their plan, one out of every three children who moves onto government coverage would drop private insurance,” Bush said. “In other words, millions of children would move out of private health insurance and onto a government program. Congress’s plan would also transform a program for poor children into one that covers children in some households with incomes up to $83,000.
“Congress’ plan would raise taxes on working people. And Congress’ plan does not even fully fund all the new spending. If their plan becomes law, five years from now Congress would have to choose between throwing people off SCHIP — or raising taxes a second time.”
Democrats also revisited the S-CHIP debate in their radio address. A week after letting a 12-year-old make the case for the legislation, Democrats gave the microphone to a more traditional spokesman: House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.
Hoyer said Bush is wrong to argue that the bill would lead to a “government takeover of health insurance”; instead, he said it would give 10 million low-income children the health care they need. Hoyer noted that the legislation has bipartisan support and that House Democrats will work to persuade a handful of Republicans to change their S-CHIP votes in order to override Bush’s veto.
“[T]oday, the only thing standing between millions of American children and the health insurance they need and deserve is one person,” Hoyer said. “The president is saying ‘no’ to these children he promised to help. This is a defining moment for this Congress.”
Categories: Maryland, Health, Weekly Radio Address, Steny Hoyer, Vetoes
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