How the Grinch Stole Children's Health Care: Gov Richardson on SCHIP veto

[seasat]

Here's his press release:

"The Grinch came three months early this year and stole children's health care. Unfortunately, this is no fairy tale, and unless Congress overrides the President's veto, it will not have a happy ending.

"President Bush's veto is irresponsible. It is outrageous. It is simply immoral. Of the many shifting rationales the President has offered for vetoing this bill, one is that it will burden private insurance companies. That sums up everything we need to know about this President. Choosing between insurance companies and children should not be hard.

"This bill is morally and fiscally responsible. It pays for itself with a cigarette tax right now. It will save us money over the long run by getting poor children the treatment they need when they need it, rather than forcing them into overstrained, costly emergency rooms.

"I strongly urge Congress to do the right thing and override the President's veto."

I decided to add my opinion on the veto on edit. IMHO, this is the first salvo against universal health care brought to you by the large insurance companies that support the Repugs and are terrified of all of our candidates. If you listen to the head idiots language, that is the real reason he vetoed it. If this expansion of SCHIP is successful, it'll make the transition to universal health care that much easier.

[jdlh8894]

1. My wife and I make less than $83K/yr

So we drop the private insurance we are now paying for (appox. $500/mo) and let some person who smokes and makes less than what we do pay for my kids? Cool!!

[spanone]

3. maybe that person that smokes makes more than you...

sounds like right wing talking points to me.
B-)

[seasat]

4. Smoking adds to the cost of all our health care

If the smoker poor and is on Medicade, Medicare, or uninsured, the tax payer will have to pick up the tab for them. Even if they are privately insured, it has economic costs to the economy. There are several studies that demonstrate that one of the best ways to get folks to reduce smoking is to increase the price of the product. In addition to protecting children, this bill also reduces smoking.

[MissB]

5. The $83k is a figure put out by New York.

It isn't a figure that can be applied to your particular area (unless you happen to live in high-cost-of-living New York).

[Skink]

2. Compassionate conservatism.