From the inbox...
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) today issued the following statement supporting President Bush’s veto of a partisan bill to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and joined other Republican leaders in unveiling principles for a bipartisan renewal of the program to expand access to quality health care for low-income children:
“Republicans are committed to reauthorizing SCHIP in a manner that puts poor children first, and we have outlined clear principles we hope can guide a bipartisan renewal of this critical program. The Republican Congress created SCHIP a decade ago to give millions of low-income, American children access to high-quality health care – not as a trial balloon for government-run health care or as a way to provide government benefits to adults and upper-income families who can afford private health insurance.
“Republicans will sustain this veto so we can begin working toward a bipartisan renewal of SCHIP that helps states provide health care to low-income children. We now face an important choice: either we all work together to renew this program or continue to play politics on the backs of our nation’s children. If Congress is truly serious about reauthorizing SCHIP, then a vote to override to President’s veto will come to the House floor immediately – not days or weeks from now – and we can begin working to craft a bipartisan, responsible bill that puts low-income children first. To drag out this process any longer would only serve to underscore the fact that some lawmakers are more concerned with partisan politics than they are with expanding health care access for low-income children.”
NOTE: Boehner, Republican Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO), Energy & Commerce Committee Ranking Member Joe Barton (R-TX), and Ways & Means Committee Ranking Member Jim McCrery (R-LA) today unveiled the following principles for a bipartisan reauthorization of SCHIP:
SCHIP Must Serve Eligible Low-Income Children First
Republicans believe we must focus on the original intent of the program: cover low-income children first.
SCHIP Should Not Force Children Out of Private Health Insurance
Republicans believe SCHIP should not replace or significantly impact those who already have private health insurance with a government run program.
SCHIP Should Cover Low-Income American Children
Republicans believe citizenship verification standards are critically important to ensuring that only U.S. citizens and certain legal immigrants are allowed access to taxpayer-funded benefits.
SCHIP Funding for Low-Income Children Should be Stable
Republicans believe SCHIP should cover low-income children without using budget gimmicks that put the program in jeopardy.
Families Ineligible for SCHIP Should Have More Health Care Choices
Republicans believe low-income and middle-class families need more health care options--like premium assistance programs--to purchase affordable, high quality health plans that best meet the needs of their families.
When Democrats get around to proposing a sensible position on this, Republicans WILL support it. Until then, let's stop pretending that it is Republicans who are taking resources away from American kids in need...
