Congressman John Campbell's Blog - Green Eyeshade Blog

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

The President Just Vetoed the SCHIP bill...

Posted by: John Campbell at 3:10 PM

Today the President vetoed the controversial SCHIP bill that passed the house by a vote of 265-159 last Tuesday. The House will not take up a provision to override the veto until October 17th as Democrat leadership knows they don't have the votes (at least 15 short) and they hope that liberal groups can take the next 2 weeks to blast Republicans in their districts in hopes of persuading 15 members of Congress to switch their position.

As I have noted in earlier Blogs, no one has argued against the bill because they don’t want children’s healthcare. In fact, the President has called for a $5 Billion increase in the program and I think children’s healthcare is something we can all get behind and support, but this is simply not a bill to provide healthcare to poor children.

SCHIP will cost the government over $4,000 per year for every newly insured child, compared to $2,300 per year to add a child to a private insurance plan. In order to disguise the $40 billion in spending the Senate proposes to cut SCHIP by 80% in 2013, of course the supporters of this bill do not really intend to cut SCHIP, which would force millions of kids off the program, so the overall cost of the bill is closer to $110 billion, which more than doubles the cost of the current program.

I also did a blog post yesterday on the “sin tax” that would be imposed on smokers in order to fund this vastly expanded version of SCHIP which is just totally unrealistic.

The nonpartisan Congressional Research Service has indicated that cigarette taxes are one of the most regressive taxes, that is, a tax that falls more heavily on lower income individuals as a percentage of income. Furthermore, this proposal has a faulty premise and will cost taxpayers more. With a shrinking tobacco market, this tax uses declining revenues to pay for an expanding program. According to estimates, it would take 22 million new smokers in the United States in the next 5 years to pay for this program.

In addition and what is becoming true to form for recent Democrat proposals , this bill makes it easier for illegal immigrants to get healthcare. It weakens requirements to prove citizenship creating an “expresslane” provision that allows a mere personal statement of citizenship in order to qualify to receive these benefits.

The Democrat leadership can delay the vote to override for the next two weeks, but as the facts become clearer to the American public, it should just solidify the resolve of those opposed to this terrible piece of legislation.

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c11bar writes:	Wednesday, October, 03, 2007 5:15 PM
Good for George
I'm glad he brushed the cobwebs off his veto pen and used it. In 2008, I'll be for a candidate that will have a red hot veto pen as president. Ron Paul!
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Liberty Dave writes:	Thursday, October, 04, 2007 9:19 AM
Surprising
I'm actually surprised that he vetoed this. He's such a big government supporter, I figured he'd just say some things that sound like he believes in smaller government, the sign it. I like what you said, though, c11bar. Go Ron Paul! He's who I will support, too. Someone who's similar to our founding fathers, he's a TRUE patriot of this country and our constitution! Ron Paul Revolution!
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orlandocajun writes:	Thursday, October, 04, 2007 11:00 AM
Better late than never...
The government already has more than enough of our money. They waste billions every day. There's no health care crisis for kids in this country. The government's already picking up the tab for poor kids who can't afford health care. This is just a way to raise more taxes by memorializing it in the form of a bill. God help us if Hillary becomes President. She, and her liberal cohorts in Congress, will set this country's economy back 20 years if that happens.
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IGoCommando writes:	Thursday, October, 04, 2007 1:48 PM
Meanwhile In Local Des Moines News...
We've already witnessed the sob stories and sick little girl on SCHIP begging the president not to take her medicine away. All followed up by Senator Harkin sound bytes. Resolve against this bill can only happen if the truth finds its way through the wall of b.s.
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SteveL writes:	Thursday, October, 04, 2007 7:36 PM
Medicare drugs but not S-CHIP?
It's going to be very difficult to explain to voters why Bush and the conservatives actually pushed for a Medicare prescription drug benefit for seniors that costs 5 times more than the S-CHIP program would, while vetoing S-CHIP. Fred Thompson got trapped by this just this week: While campaigning in Iowa, he denounced the Medicare prescription drug bill as too expensive. Apparently he forgot that Iowa Senator Charles Grassley, a Republican, had sponsored that bill.
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not ashamed to be right writes:	Friday, October, 05, 2007 3:07 AM
SteveL, it doesn't matter that
Fred stepped on Senator Grassley's toes, the bill WAS too expensive and Fred was simply telling the truth. If Grassley was offended, too bad.
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ROBZUC writes:	Friday, October, 05, 2007 4:25 AM
But they found a way to pay for it...
by increasing the tax on cigarettes $1.00! Since when do we tax only ONE segment of the population? Let's also raise the tax on fast food to obese people; where does it end? Also, why does someone making $80,000 a year need government-sponsored healthcare for their kids? Ah, well, I suppose they could apply the $5000.00 Baby Bonus Hillary wants to give them.
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chuck writes:	Friday, October, 05, 2007 7:55 AM
Left OUT
Where in this programm does it state that we have to insure ADULTS. This programm is for the children not adults. Have the DEMS go on National TV and explain to the AMERICAN People why are they complaining that the PRES has no respect for the children and why ADULTS are on a Programm that was installed for POOR CHILDREN. At what age do we consider our children as ADULTS. Maybe for DUMBOCRASPS their age of 25 might be what their problem is. Why should we insure 25 year old children, heck if that was true then more than half the DUMBOCRAPS would be getting free insurance from this PROGRAM. I thought that was why we had MIDICARE for the ADULTS that cant afford insurance. SO dont go running your mouths at what the PRES has done. Do you know that around 80% of smokers are POOR PEOPLE so who will suffer most ? DEMS are always pushing programs to stop smoking , but they need to have 22 MILLION NEW smokers to make this work. Just like a DUMBOCRAT trying to fit 10lbs of CRAP in a 5lb bag.
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Linda writes:	Saturday, October, 06, 2007 8:48 PM
Constitutionality of bill
Why doesn't anyone argue the constitutionality of such bill (or any other bill for that matter). Can someone show me where it is in the Constitution that the federal government should be in the health care business (and do not tell me it is 'to provide for the general welfare...')? The fact is it does not exist. I am sick and tired of these argues about cost of programs, it is this many billions, the Democrats say it is this many billions, blah, blah blah. The arguement should be about whether the Federal govenment can even provide the program. Who cares about arguements about cost; they can not do it. End of story. Let the states argue whether they should have the program or not.
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no bs artist writes:	Sunday, October, 07, 2007 5:19 PM
Hypocrite, cruel conservatives sheeple
If Dubya had been running for a third term he would have signed that bill in a heartbeat to prove he's a compassionate conservative who truly cares about needy kids!!! $80,0000 sounds like a lot of money but with the cost of even the necessities going up up and away, $80,000 now sounds like the poverty line. Heck even people who have what appears to be a sizeable income are struggling to make ends meet. How is it that we seem to have an endless supply of cash to flush down the toilet in Iraq but we can't give decent honest strapped AMERICANS the slightest break? Just keep doing what you're doing you dumb conservative sheeple and you'll succeed in handing the keys to the White House back to the Clintons. Heartless, just plain heartless!!!
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Arlene writes:	Wednesday, October, 10, 2007 7:58 PM
Schip Bill
I was interested when the Schip Bill appeared as a question on the debate last night. (10/9) Thanks for your in-depth explanation on that - I was happy I knew what they were referring to.
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SCHIP Dr. writes:	Monday, October, 15, 2007 6:07 PM
SCHIP and children's health
Over the past 10 years, SCHIP has provided children, who would otherwise have been uninsured, with a vital source of comprehensive health insurance. Legislation to reauthorize SCHIP was builton a bipartisan basis FOR the nation's children and for kids in the O.C. Nevertheless, our country can, and should, do more. First and foremost, we can start by covering the millions of uninsured children who are already eligible, but not enrolled, in SCHIP and Medicaid. We hope you will seize this opportunity to help solve the national disgrace that millions of American children go without health insurance every day. The latest census figures report that 700,000 more children under age 19 were uninsured in 2006. This is the second year in a row that we have moved backward in getting children covered after nearly a decade of progress. Think of the children whose future health depends on your actions in the coming week. Representative Campbell has the chance promote private insurance alternatives to this plan, but SCHIP works. Healthy Families helps kids and families in our district.
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About John Campbell

John Campbell is a member of the House Financial Services Committee, and has taken a leadership role in addressing the country's top economic issues. Campbell serves as a member of the Joint Economic Committee, and House Committee on the Budget. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from UCLA and a Master's Degree in Taxation from USC.