Steve Black is trying to pin a "no" vote on the part of Jean Schmidt on the Farm Bill as a reason to vote for him instead. I guess that means Steve Black is FOR raising your taxes, putting millions of American jobs at risk, and potentially starting a trade war with just about everybody on the planet. Maybe residents of the Second District ought to remember that too...UPDATE: Here is his press release (via email):
CINCINNATI – AUGUST 2 – Yesterday, the US House of Representatives reauthorized and expanded the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), financing it with increased tobacco taxes and cuts in subsidies to private Medicare insurance plans. Steve Black, Democratic candidate for Ohio’s Second Congressional District, has called for support and expansion of SCHIP.By 2012, 71% of America's children will be on this program. Does that sound like a realistic portrayal of "America's poor kids" to you? How about 25 year old "kids" on the program? Is that really necessary? Seriously, the welfare state is growing by leaps and bounds and it was never designed to be anything more than a safety net to catch those who legitimately need help. Do 71% of America's kids really need assistance? If so, we have bigger problems than SCHIP's tax hikes will fix...
Pleased with the outcome of yesterday’s final vote, Steve Black says, “This is a critical step toward providing health care for all Americans.” He thinks Ohio voters deserve to know that Representative Jean Schmidt (R-OH) voted against SCHIP, once again in lock step with President Bush, who threatens to veto the measure once it has been addressed by the Senate.
In 1997, a Republican-controlled Congress, in partnership with President Bill Clinton, enacted SCHIP. The program enjoys wide bipartisan support among American voters and the endorsement of numerous groups, including AARP, faith-based groups, the American Medical Association, the National Governors Association, and numerous other medical/health provider organizations.
Financed jointly by the Federal government and the states, SCHIP bridges the gap between Medicaid and private insurance for children from families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but low to afford ever more expensive private insurance. SCHIP has helped 6.7 million children across the country, and currently serves more than 145,000 in Ohio. The program’s well-documented positive results show fewer hospitalizations and better overall health for enrolled children, ultimately keeping our kids healthy while reducing overall health care costs.
“It’s a win – win opportunity for everyone,” declares Steve Black. “We provide coverage to our children during a time of critical physical development, through preventative and well-being health care thus ultimately reducing long-term health care costs to states and providers.”
By contrast, President Bush wants to slash SCHIP, which given rising health care costs, is a move calculated to undercut its future ability to help children. President Bush, in tandem with Representative Schmidt, unfairly portrays SCHIP as “government-run health care” that deprives people of “choice and competition that comes from the private market.”
“That’s pure nonsense,” says Steve Black. “The children SCHIP seeks to cover do not have choice and access—they have no health care. And to think that President Bush wants families instead to use the emergency room for check-ups is complete hogwash. Just how out of touch are our President and Representative?”
Steve Black calls on Representative Schmidt to explain her vote against Ohio’s children and encourages her to vote to override any Presidential veto.
A life-long Southern Ohioan, Steve Black has worked in leadership roles for many local non-profits, including the Children’s Home of Cincinnati, the Global Center of Greater Cincinnati, and others. He is married to Susan Black, a social worker, and has three grown children.
How out of touch is Steve Black? He doesn't get that Americans do not want socialized medicine. SCHIP is nothing more than Hillary-Care for "the Children." The problem is that the definition of children has been changed dramatically by this program... Americans want affordable healthcare that doesn't limit their ability to choose which doctor they visit. Government programs, no matter how well intentioned, limit choices; by design they do this.
This is horrible legislation and the President ought to veto it. And OH-02's residents ought to remember which candidate wants to raise your taxes, cut Medicare benefits and limit your healthcare choices. That candidate is Steve Black.
