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

[bassface49]

To have 'corporate profits' as a factor in healthcare in this country is OBSCENE! I am tired and disgusted by the pigs that abuse the system that is destroying our 'middle class'. What's next, euthanasia centers. People not dying fast enough for you guys.
Most of us are one major illness away from bankruptcy and that next statistic needs to be one of you idiots.
I watched a staunch conservative, retired Seal, and CEO die a LIBERAL convert because of our PIG STY mentality health care system.
HEALTH CARE IS A CIVIL RIGHT TO ALL AMERICANS and to argue against that is to argue with our Constitution and Founders.
But I guess we've seen what these people think of the Constitution, next on their agenda is to change the phrase 'In order to form a more perfect UNION', to 'In order to form a more perfect Corporation'.
God bless and protect the American Middle Class! Nobody in this administration is.
Disgraceful!

[ThomasDoubting]

Has it ever occured to any of the Republicans who might be reading this, that if the American people had a good health care system our whole society would benefit in innumerable ways. Consider, FREE Alcoholism Treament Centers, FREE Drug Treatment Centers, FREE Mental Health Centers. What effect would that have on our society? Some people are convinced that if we remove the profit, (thereby lowering the cost by 30%) that it will cost too much. ?? How could it possibly cost more than it does now? (Medicare costs 3%) A lot of Americans (almost 50 million) have no insurance at all, many could afford to pay for it but for this insurance system to work, those who are most likely to have claims must be excluded at the begining. With use of the invasive questionaire,that one would use to "buy" insurance, and possibly even a medical exam, they know who might get "sick" After you have completed that questionaire and they say no, try a different company.It doesn't matter how many, you are blacklisted. You must sign a release everytime you see a new doctor. (thanks to the Patriot Act) Now apply for that 'Corporate Job'. Try to impress that new landlord. Apply for a credit card. I think that it is bad enough,don't you? Lets throw these bastards out! All of them!

[mommamia526]

Yes, even if you HAVE healthcare insurance you may get cancelled. That is why the California Nurses Association got into their action They saw some patients already being admitted and then refused by their insurance companies. A few of those patients died! The California nurses association grew to a national association and they have a website, or else go to the AFL-CIO website, I am sure you can find a link there. I was a doctors wife, then divorced, and insured, for seventeen years in the U.S., before that in The Netherlands. I had major surgery, a pre-existing condtion, and did not file any claim, yet I was cancelled, and could not get any insurance, at any price (I could possibly afford, or at all). I paid for the surgery and hospitalization, cash, out of pocket, and because of hospital fraud four times plus a lien on my home as well. I never received as much as one bandaid from my insurer (Blue Cross/Blue Shield). But here is the most damaging part. As an immigrant I had to redo my education (another out of pocket cost). I had the surgery during College, then strokes and an hypotenseive event, all in four years. Yet, I still managed to graduate and on time (I was also a mother of three). After graduation I COULD NOT GET ANY EMPLOYMENT, even though I was able and qualified to work. I also did not qualify for disability, or anything else (had not worked in the U.S. for ten years, 30 yeaars total, though). What gets my blood boiling is that I could not WORK!! That to me is more of a reason to have universal healthcare than anything else. I have experience with what I am writing about.

[shishkabob]

mommamia, thank you for sharing your experiences, they matter more to me, and I hope most other readers, than the pontificating of the hacks that are trying to score points for their side of a political debate. I want to post an opposing story. I am an American who worked at Cambridge University. My infant daughter's finger was nearly severed and was almost literally hanging on by a thread (it was a ligament). We lived about a block from the nearest doctor's office, so we wrapped the finger and ran. Once there, he stabilized her and we took a taxi to the Addenbrooks Hospital, where we received absolutely fabulous care. Her finger was reattached and it now functions perfectly. I am so grateful to the English for giving us, a temporary worker and family, the same care they enjoy. There was some cost cutting (I was surprised that we went to the hospital in a taxi, but cab fare is a lot lower than an ambulance and she had been seen be a doctor and was stable.) My experience just seems so much more democratic than the obscenities of the the US system that plagued you.

[ihavenobias]

Maybe the phrasing is a little off, but I think you meant to say the administrative cost of Medicare is around 3% vs (roughly) 30% (give or take) for private insurance companies.

In other words, 3 cents of every dollar is "wasted" on running the program vs 30 cents.

[mpgarr]

I was just listening to Jonathon Kozol on the David Barsamyan's independent radio program "Alternative Radio"

He was discussing the disaster that is George Bush's "No Child Left Behind Program," especially how it most hurts children trapped at the lowest economic levels of our society--

He made a point that I like to make--that we have no problem finding billions of money to "throw at the Pentagon" or for war---but ask for money to educate children or pay for their health insurance from one of our politicos and the response is something like "what--do you think we are made of money?" and "do you think that throwing money at that problem is going to solve anything?"

[interventor]

Introduce a bill that doesn't grant insurance to children who ALREADY have insurance thru their parents. And, doesn't define 25-year olds as children, then we'll talk.

And, most of the working poor do not pay income tax. They do pay medicare and social security.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

Anyone who works pays taxes... Uncles Sam just takes it... it's not a choice.

Forget children... EVERYONE deserves healthcare... well, except you intervenor... we'll leave you out to pay for your medical care.

[may261989]

I find it amazing how American conservatives are so blatantly mean spirited. Is it something in the water you guys drink over there? In both countries i've lived - Australia and the U.K - Conservatives dont bother to argue against Universal healthcare as they realise its a basic human right - something that American Conservatives fail to understand. The only conclusion one can reach is that American conservatives are evil. Arguing that children do not deserve free healthcare is imho an example of pure evil. Shame, shame.

[splashy]

You know, I'm inclined to agree with you on the American conservatives being evil. Look at what they do to others for profit. They are astonishingly callous and cruel.

[wmbear]

NO CHILD'S BEHIND LEFT...

Should be the name of Bush's health insurance program for children.

[metsfan1]

Good article, Governor! And so true. And what people all over the U.S. should do is protest like hell.

[apogee2perogee]

Governor Spitzer,

I would like to thank you sir, for your investigations into securities, corporations, and other national-scale problems and your pursuit of appropriate prosecution when you were Attorney General for the State of New York. Thank you for your protection of the citizenry and your support for the rule of law.

[researcher]

I take it you are insured Mormon dude. Why is it we think we are the only country on earth with good medical treatment?

Take a look at the side effects of many of those drugs Mormon dude. Sometimes herbs can work better but to patent their drug they must make it synthetic and hence the side effects.

When I took a friend to see sicko on the way to her home she stated “I thought we had the best medical care in the world”. That gives you an idea of the global competence of the average American. Besides does 50 million people have to go without health care so you can have your new drugs. Elitist thinking there Mormon dude.

Better get out of that book of Mormon and see what Jesus had to say about taking care of the poor. Health care may qualify for that taking care part.

God if I could just talk to one neo con that was NOT a self centered egotistical its all about me individualist war for profits materialist. That would make my day just one please just one. There must be one neo con out there that understands what Jesus was talking about. Just one.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

I doubt it researcher.... I doubt it. That's why we are in such hot water right now... the NEOCONS are in charge.

[Jonahson]

I really don't understand how American politicians can create such a heartless decision where you have to have medical insurance to pay for your medical bill.
Can everybody afford medical insurance? The price of medical insurance is not cheap.
In fact it is cheaper to die then to get sick. Everything can be democratised but not the health of your citizens. The government must take care or at least provide affordable medical healthcare to does who are poor.
It is a noble and understanding gesture for does who can afford medical insurance to want to pay for their own medical healthcare so as not to burden the government so who is stopping that? But unless there is no poor people in the USA otherwise you are letting them suffer mentally and pyhsically when they really need medical attention.
Do you vote to let people suffer and die because they are poor and cannot afford to pay for expensive medical insurance? Or is it because of some lousy *%3@! rich politicians who made a decision on that.
Wake up America it's time for change.

[init]

Gov. Spitzer is one credible voice that the democrats really need now. Young, wise and fresh. Spitzer, Fitzgerald, even if Fitz is Republican, they are young, serious, bright and ripe. Makes me feel safe in the twilight of my life.

[frisbee7]

Bravo, Governor Spitzer...this administration poison pill strategy is unmitigated gall pure and simple.

It's too bad this site is highly moderated, otherwise I would be tempted to tell what appears to be an increasing number of paid trolls to just F... off.

Some more relevant points to this discussion would be how long can we continue to ignore why this country pays the most per capita of any nation for health coverage while watching the quality of that care both rise in price and the overall quality diminish?

Why are we are one of the last industrialized nation's that don't offer universal health care? Surely, it can't be the logic of the market, I thought American business wanted to be competitive.

So exactly, what part of all American's are all better off if everyone has access to health care without having to worry about being bankrupted by the costs that you neocon flacks don't understand?

[ASurvivorInUtah]

Governor Spitzer, in case you haven't noticed sir, the neocons have been busy trying to dismantle all our social safety nets and undoing policies the majority of Americans believe in. They've proved to be totally inept at governing because they only know how to campaign. Most of them seem to have plenty of money, and as long as they have good health care they don't care much about the rest of us. Commander Codpiece and Darth Cheney are much too busy giving jobs to their unqualified cronies and awarding no bid government contracts to companies that are already rich and powerful. Bush drones on and on about freedom in Iraq but can't handle anyone wearing an anti war tee shirt at one of his photo ops. If there was a way for me to choose, I would say use my taxes to pay for health insurance and food for the poor. Use my taxes to rebuild the crumbling infrastructure of our nation instead of fighting wars. Use my taxes to pay for good teachers and better schools for children. America used to be a beacon of hope for the rest of the world but under Bush, the rest of the world despises us. How many roads,bridges, hospitals and schools could have been built or improved by the billions of dollars wasted in Iraq? Most of us are just waiting for the end of Bush's term and I hope and pray that we can restore the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights that used to govern our country afterward.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

Very well put Survivor.

I too am willing to give my taxes for the betterment of society... all of OUR society. If we raise them well now... they'll take better care of us when we need them...but who thinks ahead in the Bush administration? They're set for life...so, stomp, stomp, stomp on the American public.

We truly ARE prisoners of the Bush administration.

[protagonia]

It's the people who DO share versus the ones who don't. Democrats are generally better at it, making them inherently better people. Of course Neo Cons will disagree. It doesn't mean that they're correct. They are the least of us, the lowest thing a person can be. it should bother them to read this. It should bother them enough to change. Pride will keep them form doing so, sadly. They will face their just deserts elsewhere, and it will be a doosie. They've spent their lives thinking this was all owed them. That others did not toil to make them comfortable. Those things add up in a human soul. They will give themselves an illness of some sort to mete out proper punishment.

[SamBrown]

I'd like George Bush to explain how he calls everything from a stem-cell to a born child a sacred human life that must be protected, and then dickers over the numbers when it comes to health insurance for those same children. If the government can insist it be born then why can't the government insure it will be cared for?

[SamBrown]

Just amazing how much a "christian nation" can haggle and analyze and crunch numbers over HEALTH CARE for it's citizens. How much more basic does it get? Ensure we are all healthy from infancy to grave. It's better for all of us in the long run. Is that so hard to comprehend for some?
There are "third world" countries that do a better job of coverage for even the poorest of it's citizens. You may not be able to get a facelift cheap, but if you get a sudden illness you will be cared for.