Bush's Poison Pill for America's Kids

Sometimes in politics, you think you've seen it all. Turns out I was wrong.

Just when you thought things at the White House couldn't get any stranger, the president has decided it is good public policy to increase the number of uninsured children in our country.

In the last year, we've seen public opinion building around the principle that no American should be denied health care. The president has answered that call by attempting to limit eligibility for the State Children's Health Insurance Program. SCHIP is a program that provides health care to children whose families make too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private health insurance.

The president is trying to tell governors like me across the country that until we enroll 95 percent of those eligible for S-CHIP in households making under 200 percent of the poverty line ($41,300 for a family of four), we cannot provide health care to children in families making above 250 percent of the poverty line ($51,625 for a family of four).

Make no mistake. This is a poison pill meant to deny thousands of children health insurance.

While state governments make every effort to enroll as many eligible kids as possible, there will always be some individuals who fail to take advantage of this important program. In New York, we currently enroll 88 percent of children in families making below 200 percent of the poverty level. No state has yet cleared the 95 percent hurdle.

Since many states already enroll children at income thresholds above 250 percent of the poverty level, this means that these new regulations will have the effect of forcing children who already have coverage out of the program. Moreover, New York's historic effort to provide universal coverage for children through SCHIP will not be able to get off the ground because of this bureaucratic sleight of hand.

The president surely knows this. But then that begs the question: Why would he choose to pursue this path?

This isn't about fiscal restraint. The initiative is paid for through a tax on unhealthy cigarettes and other revenue sources. This isn't about good public policy. SCHIP has been wildly successful in providing health care for nearly seven million of our nation's vulnerable children.

The actions of the White House speak to what we've all known for far too long. When faced with the choice of covering thousands of children, they'll bring up the "big government" bogeyman and then stick their heads in the sand, ignoring the realities facing working families across the country.

This is not the way it has to be. Health care for our children should not be a partisan issue.

I have joined governors of both parties from across the country in trying to expand SCHIP coverage. My initiative to expand SCHIP and provide universal coverage to New York's children was passed by a large bi-partisan majority in our state legislature. I have even committed to taking legal action if CMS refuses to do what is right, follow the law, and insure these kids.

While we promise to keep doing our best to hold the President accountable, we cannot do it alone. We need your help

There are 400,000 uninsured children in New York and 9 million around the country who are counting on you to be their voice. Call your congressman and tell him or her to overturn the president's decision. Write the White House and tell them what you think.

I just wrote a column in the New York Daily News about this issue, which you can find here. Writing a letter to the editor of your local paper is a great way to make your opinion heard.

Standing by and letting this injustice go unanswered is simply not an option. The stakes are too high. You must do your part.

If we fail to act, 400,000 children in New York - and millions more across America - will continue to rely on the oldest and most precarious health insurance policy of all: waking up every morning and praying that they don't get sick.

Click here to watch a video of Governor Spitzer and Congressman Rangel and discussing this issue. Governor Spitzer and Governor Schwarzenegger also recently wrote a letter to the President demanding that these new rules be be withdrawn (more).

Comments

[esky]

Why so surprised governor? There are no ethical or moral limits to these lootesr and pillagers. The common good never enters into the question of war, education, health, safety or any other non-political topic. There are no topics that are not viewed through the prism of the good of their ass-hole corporate and/or right wing pals. It doesn't matter who dies from lack of care as long as insurance companies and and mega-pseudo contractors get theirs. War, natural disasters, poverty are all just opportunities for their greedy, morally corrupt corporate masters. They all have to go before martial law sets in.

[esquire07]

Who cares about the Children... they can all get sick and die.

The only thing that matters is killing people in Iraq, stealing all the Oil, and stuffing Bush/Cheney pockets with Oil and Arms profits.

America is one fucked up country.

[blu2purple]

And yet we still can't convince OUR own ELECTED officials to impeach.

[spencerh]

Not about fiscal restraint? It never has been. It's another move towards their Rothbardian Libertarian fantasies. Remember, to the economic Right, it's about Market Fundamentalism (until they need a bailout, then the Corporatist wing rears its head) - no government regulation, the market is king, no public services. The "Machinery of Freedom" is the machinery of tyranny.

[nyboomer]

The systems in use in countries that have universal healthcare cost less than the USA model. Why is it that we pay more money to get less care and then declare the others to be worthless? How can that be justified?

A healthcare system works best if it exists to care for citizenry rather than to produce a profit. No profit making concern will ever do its best for the patients. It will always seek to do its best for its stockholders by withholding care, especially when it is likley to be costly. Corporations will stand by and watch a citizen die in order to increase their profits.

[marleysghost]

I suggest a national campaign beginning with a letter writing campaign to every elected representative: Demand they pay their own health care costs. I have sent the following to mine.
Use it in good health!

Dear Senator/Re­presentati­ve: "I am tired of paying for your health care costs. This is especially true since you somehow can't find the money and political willpower to provide sensible and fair health care for the children of this nation. Catastrophic illnesses also bankrupt entire families in this nation. I want you to pay your own way from now on. If you find that too burdensome, I very strongly suggest you become part of a national effort to restructure how health care is managed in this country, or the people of this country just may begin do it without your help."

This is just the seed. Plant it everywhere and watch it grow.

[IMPRISONBUSH]

BUSH has no trouble sending 3,700 PLUS AMERICAN MEN AND WOMAN TO THERE DEATHS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN AND IS WILL TO SEND MORE.
SO WHY WOULD IT BE ANY DIFFERENT TO CODEM 1,MILLION CHILDREN TO DEATH IN THE U. FOR NOT HAVEING MEDICAL CAR / INS.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF ILIGAL IMMERGRANTS TO TAKE THERE PLACE FOR CHEAP LABOR LATER.

............" HAPPY LABOR DAY "................

..............." AMERICA ".........­..........

[matandch]

Steal a play from the President's playbook. When you don't like what's before you, make your own reality. Cook the books, fudge the numbers, do what it takes to make the 95%. Are you going to let something as simple as numbers get in the way? The end always justifies the means...this is what President Bush has taught me. Now go for it!

[Magnolia]

Sorry--make that *state-of-the-art*.

[Magnolia]

Go see Sicko!! And take everybody you can to see Sicko!! When you do you will see how empty this whole conversation is.

We are the ONLY country in the western world that doesn't provide universal health care for its citizens. People in Canada, England, France, AND CUBA have longer life expectancy rates and lower infant mortality rates than we do--the richest country in the world. When you see Sicko, you will feel ripped off enough to DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!!

This is not rocket science! It is all about corporate GREED, and it's KILLING PEOPLE! Other countries provide *start-of-the-art* FREE care for everyone--even visitors!--and their populations are BETTER OFF ECONOMICALLY THAN WE ARE, AND THEY LIVE LONGER! The lies about long lines for surgery and crippling tax rates in countries that have "socialized medicine" (a Republican scare phrase) are JUST THAT--LIES! EDUCATE YOURSELF!

Go see Sicko and then DEMAND UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE!! I am retiring in 4 years and I am moving out of this country when I do. My son is a medical student, and after seeing how healthcare works in truly civilized countries, he has determined NOT to practice medicine in the U.S.A.

To learn everything you need to know about healthcare in this country and rest of the civilized world, GO SEE SICKO!!

[blu2purple]

My God we can't get this idiot out of office fast enough. Our senior citizens are crossing into Mexico and checking into cheaper nursing homes while we foot the bill for free medical care for Mexico's poor. Not one single person in this country should be uninsured and not single senior should be worried or have to make a choice between food and medication. These assholes in the White House should be ashamed of themselves. Wal-Mart has led the way for all like them to dump the children on the back of the tax payers. We need to have doctors and hospitals to just start billing the company of the parents when a child comes in for treatment...I am so sick of BIG BUSINESS in the White House. They are the reason we are in this shape. When you cut all of your full time force out and only hire part time to keep from furnishing insurance.­..yep...fo­rk it over middle class...big business wins again...to pay their CEO, or CFO...Don't be mad when all of these people show up for medicade...if you vote republican...you did it.

[beegee]

Mr. President, you have no idea how hard it is to live paycheck to paycheck. Milk cost more a gallon than gas. Millions of us live below poverty level and do not, nor can afford, health insurance. You seriously need a realty check. You have lived a lush life while the rest of has struggle to pay property taxes and medical bills.
Wake up before the lights go out as we, lower than middle class people hope to see our light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, its a way out of our reach. Keep sucking up the benefits of oil and you will soon be nothing more than a greasy loser.

[skyblu]

Governor Eliot I'd love to vote for you in the 2008 Democratic or Independent Primary '08. Not for any issues oriented position, per se, but for your indefatiguable efforts on behalf of justice and equality for all Americans.

Clearly from this blog, anywhere, there appears to be no consensus in this country on how we view all of our children. Reproductive education, child development, family planning, access to birth control; as desparately needed to help young people understand the responsibilities and requirements of parenthood.

Yet this Administration funds only abstinence!

We seem to have rather distorted views of what "private" means and what "public" means with respect to the provision and payment for healthcare. Because all the freemarketeers reject any notion of government price control for inelastic goods such as pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and energy government control will have to be instituted whether or not this is a good thing. Instead of reasonable negotiation and consensus within the current market the greed factor and devalued dollar create the likelihood of government control, regulation, and management of healthcare which may or may not be a good thing.

We are all to blame but we also are all required to step up to our responsibilities and get our country back on track.

"Let the market decide" is a false catchall that has brought us a dollar that is worthless, plumetting to record lows under Bush/Cheney... a situation that has contributed to the terrible economic uncertainty that pervades most Americans who work for a living.
If you honestly believe that children in America whose families or single head of household is unable to pay for health insurace, who become ill should be left to die on the streets or elsewhere (out of your sight), your U.S. citizenship should be revoked and you should find another country to call home, such as Brazil, to rebuild your 'estate' and take care of numero uno.

[boldtimer]

Just another divisive issue created by the real power structure in this country; keep us fighting with each other and then nothing ever gets done as big business and bankers work behind the scenes to further increase their hold on power and fill their pockets.
The issue is, and has been for years, the lack of leadership that strives to promote the primary promise of our Constitution, promotion of the general welfare.
Why does the Democratic Party continue to promote the corporate whores that dominate the list of presidential hopefuls when we have real Democrats like Elliot Spitzer who have spent their lives fighting for what's legal and fair. However, I don't know if the American voter can relate to anyone with Elliot's credentials; Bush has forever lowered expectations for future candidates who persue that office !

[richw23]

Our government has passed legislation to let them interfere in each individual life at least since they decided the best tax system was to place every working person in the country in an adverserial position with the government.

They don't care how complex and insane the system becomes, just makes everyone more dependent on the government. Now on health care we're in a position where the only possible solution is universal coverage under government control. But, that's life. I'd rather everyone have the same mediocre coverage rather than have the poor exploited so I can get almost decent converage by paying for insurance.

Well played, government and toady beancounters.

[Mavin1620]

Gov. Spitzer is right. It makes no sense. We pay either through health care or we pay through welfare.
My doctors tell me that 55% of my health care dollar that goes them to filling out insurance forms.
We used to have public health hospitals for the poor and some veterns. Where are they? They worked.
Health care is a right, part of "promote the general Welfare," as The Preamble to the Constitution says:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."