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Printer-Friendly ModeVeto of S-CHIP expansion irresponsible
October 22, 2007 —
After nearly seven years in the White House, President George Bush has exercised his right to veto bills passed by Congress only four times. His most recent veto has me wondering why he didn't stop at three.
Bush vetoed a bill for a $35 billion expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). This program is meant to provide health care to children in families whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid, but who do not make enough to pay for private health care. In Michigan alone approximately 31,500 were being supported by this program as of this January.
Bush has many reasons to justify his veto. Some reasons suggest he is simply underinformed, others suggest he is overly concerned.
Bush feels the increase is simply too much. Right now, families who qualify for the insurance help are those who fall at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The increase would allow those at 300 percent or lower to be aided by the program. The president told a Lancaster audience that "this program expands coverage, federal coverage, up to families earning $83,000 a year. That doesn't sound poor to me."
This number comes from a proposal out of New York to allow coverage to those up to 400 precent of the federal poverty level. Under the bill this would not be allowed. The average income for a family of four at 300 percent is $60,000. So, Bush's remark about families "not being poor" is not only distasteful, it is also untrue.
Bush also supports his decision by citing his belief in "private medicine" and that the federal government should not make decisions for physicians and consumers. The belief in private medicine is not the problem.
Once again, Bush seems unaware that his claim about the bill is untrue and unjustified. Children who are helped by S-CHIP are enrolled in private health insurance. The families usually have a choice between a couple of competing insurance companies. No company, or family, is being favored.
It is the president's job to look at all aspects of a bill before he decides to pass or veto it. However, when looking at all aspects, it is more important to be adequately informed. By making claims about the bill that are not true, Bush is hurting his credibility, which may or may not be something new.
With his strong belief in private medicine comes a fear of national health care. The rationale behind this being that, with the lines for those who can be in the program being rearranged, more wealthy parents might be tempted to drop their private coverage and opt for S-CHIP coverage instead. One of the problems with this argument is that as stated before S-CHIP does have people covered by private insurance. The other problem is that this fear of national health care is overrated.
Now, I'm not going to turn this into a debate about whether national health care is a good idea or not. My opinion on that is irrelevant to this argument. What is relevant is that this fear is causing what is important to be ignored. This program is about helping poor children. Children are innocent, they cannot help where they are at, and they have a right to a high quality of life. Helping poor children is nowhere near national health care. It does not include adults, who may have some control over their situation in life. It includes children, only children, which by no means leads to national health care.
All presidents try to do what is best for the country, but as time goes on it becomes apparent that Bush may be falling a little short in some areas. I now understand why his public image is not quite up to par.