House Republicans strongly support renewing State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to cover low-income children, but have warned a huge expansion of government-run health care would lead to ‘Hillary-care’ that puts government rather than doctors and patients first. On the House floor today, the Democrats’ SCHIP bill puts politics first – as well as a certain presidential veto – instead of working toward a commonsense solution to ensure that 6.6 million low-income children benefiting from SCHIP won’t be the victims of partisan politics.
Following are 10 of the Most Egregious SCHIP provisions House Democrats won’t tell you about:
Promotes Massive ‘Hillary-Care’ at Taxpayers’ Expense. The Democrats’ bill would help achieve their longtime goal of bureaucratic government-run health care. They even say so themselves. (H.R. 976)
Provides SCHIP Benefits to Adults. The Democrats’ bill continues to use taxpayer dollars to fund SCHIP for adults through 2012, taking away limited resources from needy kids – the original intent of the program when it was created by Republicans in 1997. (Section 112)
Allows Middle- & Upper-Income Kids With Private Sector Health Care to Receive SCHIP Benefits. The measure fails to focus on low-income children and instead grandfathers states like New York which provide SCHIP benefits to children with middle- and upper-income families who earn up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level (currently $83,000). (Section 114)
Shifts Two Million Kids with Private Health Care to Government-Run ‘Hillary-Care.’ According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Democrats’ bill would shift some two million children who are currently in private health care plans to government-run health care – shifting more and more costs to American taxpayers.
Provides Benefits for Illegal Immigrants. The Democrats’ bill opens the door for SCHIP and Medicaid benefits for illegal immigrants by substantially weakening a requirement that persons applying for such services show proof of citizenship or nationality. (Section 211)
Invites Fraud, Waste & Abuse in Enrolling Targeted Populations Such as Illegal Immigrants. The Democrats’ bill includes a state option which allows “express enrollment” for Medicaid & SCIHP benefits without proving eligibility, such as documenting proof of citizenship for example. (Section 203)
Uses a Budget Gimmick to Mask the True Cost to Taxpayers. The Democrats’ bill purposely misleads American taxpayers by “fudging” the actual cost of their entitlement expansion plan by $40 billion and forces some five million children off SCHIP by drastically cutting the funding in 2013. (Section 101 & 108)
Dramatically Increases Taxes on Working Families. The Democrats’ bill hikes tobacco taxes by 61 cents per pack, once again proving that Democrats are harming low-income families they claim to want to help. In April, 15 Democrats acknowledged this fact when they sent a letter to Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt (D-SC) encouraging him not to raise the tobacco taxes in the budget resolution because they were not only regressive but a declining source of revenue. (Section 701)
Includes Hidden Earmarks. Despite Democratic claims that the bill is “earmark-free,” the Democrats’ bill includes an earmark that directs taxpayer money to a hospital in Tennessee , and may contain other earmarks as well. (Section 618 & others)
Increasing Spending by More than Double Current Levels. The Democrats’ bill increases spending on SCHIP by more than double current levels. The current program is budgeted at $25 billion over five years, while the Democrats’ bill calls for an increase of another $35 billion over five years. That commitment will likely increase over time and become yet another unsustainable government entitlement program. (Section 101 & 108)
In 1997, Republicans created SCHIP to help needy children in low-income families, not as a first step towards a massive expansion of government-run health care for all Americans. The Democrats’ bill falls short in many areas, and it deserves to be vetoed. The low-income children SCHIP serves, as well as American taxpayers, deserve better.
A safety net is all we need. What the Democrats are wanting to do with SCHIP promotes a lifestyle of reliance on government instead of self.
