To Battle On For Kids' Health Program
By Congressman Bill Delahunt
Washington-As I write this today, the House of Representatives has failed by 13 votes to override the President's veto of an extension of the State Children's Health Insurance Program or SCHIP.
But that doesn't mean the struggle is over.
I believe it is morally imperative to provide health coverage for the children of America's working families. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Congress to return legislation to President Bush to ensure that these 10 million kids will be covered and can receive the care that they need and deserve.
President Bush's veto of this legislation, which had strong bipartisan support in the House and Senate and from the majority of the American people, is unconscionable. The SCHIP, which was created in 1997 under a Republican Congress, provides health insurance for the most vulnerable members of our society-children. The President's veto demonstrated a lack of compassion for those who need health care the most. In 2006, more than 6.7 million children-190,000 in Massachusetts alone-received health care coverage thanks to SCHIP. This legislation would have expanded the program to cover an additional 57,300 kids in the Commonwealth.
As the number of children without health insurance increases for the first time in recent years, the need to reauthorize this program is greater than ever. SCHIP technically expired September 30, but we were able to continue funding for this and other government obligations.
To overturn a presidential veto, both chambers of Congress must produce two-thirds majorities. The Senate passed the SCHIP expansion by a large enough margin to override a veto. But the 273 yes votes in the House were two dozen fewer than we needed. This was eight more votes than we had been able to muster in the original vote, but still not enough as support from 44 Republicans actually was one vote fewer than the bill received in the original ballot. (The nays on the override were 156 and included two Democrats.) The House proposal provided for a $35-billion expansion of SCHIP, for a total of $60 billion over five years. The additional cost of the legislation would be offset by a 61-cent increase in the federal cigarette tax. This proposal would provide health insurance for an additional 57,300 children in Massachusetts.
The bill was designed to expand quality health care coverage to approximately 10 million children in America. Studies show it costs less than $3.50 a day to cover a child through SCHIP. Insuring all our children is cost-effective and saves funds from taxpayers who pick up the tab for indigent care in emergency rooms-the most expensive way to care for a child's health.
In his veto the president expressed concern that the program would increase taxes, expand the size of government and encourage families to drop their private insurance. As a staunch advocate for the SCHIP program I will continue to fight to ensure that vital healthcare coverage will go to the children who need it most.