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Bush wins policy battle, reauthorizes SCHIP
By sage of monticello | December 30, 2007
After resisting Democratic led efforts to expand the popular State Children Heatlh Insruance Program (SCHIP) by $35 billion by exercising his veto pen twice, President Bush signed a bill reauthorizing, not expanding, the program at its current spending levels until March 2009.
As you may remember, Bush vetoed the SCHIP expansion because it was funded through a tax increase on tobacco, but for the tax to create the revenue needed to meet the spending level, an additional 22 million American would have to become smokers. How much sense does that make?
Bush also vetoed the SCHIP expansion because it would cover kids who already have private insurance. If the goal is to cover the most needy, i.e. those without insurance, than why spend tax dollars to cover kids who already have insurance. By attempting to shift kdis from private insurance to the government rolls, Democrats intended to slowly create an environment where adults expect provisions from the government because they received them as children. Bush smelled this socialist rat, at vetoed the bill twice due to this provision.
Lastly, Bush vetoed the bill because it covered children of illegal aliens and adults. SCHIP is a program for American children. Illegal aliens and adults should not receive SCHIP benefits.
This is a win for Bush because he drew a line, stuck to it, and was backed up by Republicans in Congress who upheld his veto. Winning this policy battle, as well as several others (Iraq, energy, etc) will force Democrats to work with Republicans in Congress and Bush, or win enough votes in the Senates to obtain cloture - which is unlikely, or just not pass any legislation. In 2007, the Democrats chose the latter, and their approval ratings and electoral hopes have suffered because of it.
In 2008, Democrats (if they are smart) will work with Republicans which ensures conservative solutions to problems will become a part of legislation. This is a result of Bush’s policy wins in 2007.
Topics: Pres. Bush, SCHIP |
