Lions and Tigers and Health Insurance for Kids. Oh My!
ETA: The SCHIP reauthorization just passed the House, 289-139. Punish or reward your representative as appropriate.
You'd think that the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) reauthorization bill is a snarling bear given the way some conservatives are acting.
The SCHIP reauthorization is coming to the House floor today. The program covers kids with family incomes too high for Medicaid but too low to purchase private or employer-sponsored coverage.
And conservatives like Rep. John Culberson (R-TX) have their knickers in a twist over the process. He wants to know where the “liberal outrage” over the process is – there’s been no hearings, virtually no public scrutiny! Quick! Run, save yourselves from a government that wants kids to have access to dental care and doctors.
And his claim about no hearings? Right... Try 2/26/08 (Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health); 1/29/08 (Ditto); 2/1/07 (Senate Finance); 2/14/07 (Energy and Commerce again); 1/1/07 (Ditto); 3/27/07 (Ditto); 7/19/07 (Senate Finance mark-up); 7/26/07 (Ways and Means mark-up); 7/26/07 (Energy and Commerce mark-up)...
Yeah, funny thing about the public record -- it is PUBLIC.
In all seriousness, H.R. 2, isn’t being considered under so-called normal order. But it doesn’t need to be – H.R. 2 is virtually a re-print of H.R. 976, which passed the House 360-45 in February 2007, with a little of H.R. 3963 – which also passed the House, 265-142 – in October 2007. Both were vetoed by President Bush.
The rule – the thing that governs floor debate – is closed, meaning no amendments, but it does allow a motion to recommit. That is, a motion to send the bill back to committee to be amended or killed. If Mr. Culberson really believes that H.R. 2 is such a sacrilege, let him enlist Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), and whip the votes to pass the motion.
And the bill is paid for -- a 61 cent increase in the federal tax on cigarettes plus some prohibitions on Medicare-related referrals by physicians to hospitals in which they have a financial stake.
What House-side conservatives are really mad over is a provision in the bill to repeal a waiting period. At the moment, legal immigrant pregnant women and children have to wait five years before becoming eligible for SCHIP.
Think about what happens in five years. A baby gets most of his/her immunizations. Cervical dsyplasia can turn into cancer. Glucose intolerance can turn into Type II diabetes can turn into kidney failure. Lead poisoning can go undiagnosed, robbing a child of IQ points. A cavity can abscess and kill.
So, Mr. Culberson, let’s stop pretending that a bill that prevents the disease, disability and death of millions of poor kids is such a travesty, m’kay?
Thanks for this GREAT summary and explanation! So, I wonder what his real beef is?
Posted by: PunditMom | January 14, 2009 at 10:28 AM
His real beef is immigrants. Or being in an even smaller minority. Not having any power. Losing is hard. Graciously conceding is damn near impossible.
Posted by: Melissa | January 14, 2009 at 10:36 AM
This is PURE GOLD Melissa! THANKS!
Posted by: Julie Pippert | January 14, 2009 at 10:53 AM
AMEN!
Posted by: Kyla | January 14, 2009 at 11:24 AM
FABULOUS POST!
Posted by: Lawyer Mama | January 14, 2009 at 02:42 PM
As much as I want to get the best health insurance plan from Blue Cross Blue Shield, I also want the best for the health of these children. I LOVE YOUR POST!
by the way, I found this info for children's health plan at www.californiahealthplans.com. You might be interested.
Posted by: blueshield | January 14, 2009 at 05:41 PM
I'm with you! Great post.
Posted by: JCK | January 14, 2009 at 07:01 PM
Ah, yes... because making sure that our children are healthy and grow up to be healthy adults is a bad, bad, bad thing that we should all be outraged by...
Political priorities are very ... Well, I'll be nice...
I'm so glad that it passed.
Posted by: Gwynne | January 14, 2009 at 07:29 PM
The "illegal immigrant" bogeyman is a red herring and everyone knows it.
Let's just say it plain: so, Culberson, when did you start hating kids and babies?
Great post! Hope SCHIP reauthorization flies through the Senate too.
Posted by: cynematic | January 14, 2009 at 11:58 PM
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Posted by: Debt Settlement | February 15, 2009 at 11:37 PM
bit late on this one but thanks a top post.
Posted by: cheap health insurance plan | May 08, 2009 at 06:19 PM