SCHIP Veto Override Hits the Hill This Week.......

Tomorrow, the House of Representatives will consider and likely vote on overriding President Bush's veto to expand the SCHIP program. SCHIP gives health insurance coverage to low and middle income children not covered by Medicaid. Like most issues, the argument is not crystal clear, so both sides are fighting it out in the press.







Democrats want to be able to provide coverage to all uninsured children, up to 3 times the poverty line in all states. In some states, this would be as much as $83000 per year - not exactly poverty, is it. If I made 83k, I think I could find the 300/month to pay for insurance. Then again, if I didn't depend on the Federal Government for everything, what kind of good American would I be?






Meanwhile, on the other side, Conservatives worry that by expanding SCHIP, we give the OK to socialized medicine. We see how well that works in Canada sometimes, don't we. Some worry that the same type of fraud that plagues Medicaid would soon affect SCHIP. Is it Compassion or Big Brother?? Does Congress have the votes to override Bush's veto?? Stay Tuned.

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In a follow-up, The House override failed 273-156 - no 2/3 majority. To give you an idea of the spin, the current SCHIP program is $5B, the new program would have been $12B - a 140% increase. Now the 2 houses will redo the bill to a more suitable amount - probably about $8B.

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