S-CHIP: Why Democrats Hate Poor People

Democrats, Economics, George W. Bush, Health Care, Justin Hunt

Since I’ve started working in civil service, I hear a lot of feedback from the public. It really gives you a whole new perspective on things. It’s also led me to believe that the liberal controlled branch of the media and the DNC runs one of the most effective misinformation campaigns imaginable. I dare say that they rival that of the Department of Propaganda in communist China. I almost admire them for being so successful in manipulating the masses to believe whatever the 6 o’clock news says… but then I realize how truly damaging it is to millions of innocent lives in America, and I get just a bit ticked.

The misinformation campaign being led by the socialist DNC and their allies in the media against the S-CHIP bill debate is but one example of the damage the media is wreaking on the public. Despite what you may hear on the floor of the House and the Senate or read in the Washington Post or New York Times, the S-CHIP bill is nothing but a veiled attempt at paving the way for a more socialist form of health care. As most of you know, the President has begun to use his all-powerful veto to crush at least some of what the Democratic Congress has been pushing through. Thankfully, he followed through with his promise to veto the S-CHIP bill pushed through by Democrats. Instead of being heralded as a protector of our financial freedom, he is being accused of denying millions of children health care… and that’s exactly what it looks like to the untrained eye. However, the investigative reporters at 3convservatives.com have gone to great lengths to bring you the truth about what S-CHIP really is and what this new piece of legislation was intended for all along.

Geez, where do we start… how about the President’s plan:

• Expand S-CHIP by 20% ($5 billion) over the next five years.
• *Cover 95% of children 200% of the poverty line (or 50% above Medicaid eligibility) before offering it to higher income family (*note - this was its original purpose when designed in 1997).
• Ensure that the nearly 500,000 children who are now eligible but still uninsured be covered before those of wealthier families.

Alright, that was simple. A small increase so as not to rock the economy and ensure those who need it most get it first. Let’s look at the proposed plan…

• Increase S-CHIP 121% over the next fiver years and then suddenly cut funding to S-CHIP by 65% between the years of 2012 to 2014.
• Funding would come from a federal cigarette tax of $.61 per pack.
• Open up enrollment to families making 300% ABOVE the poverty level and in some states 400% above the poverty level before insuring the 500,000 uninsured children living in homes making below 200% of the poverty level.

Ok… see the difference. Pretty big, right? Now let me point out a couple of flaws with the second plan.

1. Expanding S-CHIP to the proposed funding over the next five years is unsustainable by the $.61 cigarette tax.
2. Shutting off 2/3 of that funding in 2 years is simply not possible.
3. ~35% or 2 million new enrollees would drop their private health insurers to enroll in S-CHIP. Remember that S-CHIP was originally designed to insure children who weren’t eligible for Medicaid and still couldn’t afford health insurance.
4. The median household income with children under the age of 18 in the U.S. is $58,865. S-CHIP covers families making $62,000 and, in some areas, up to $83,000. Does over half of America’s youth need government-provided health care?

Let’s face it, the President is looking out for those who need help the most. It’s beyond absurd to give states the option of enrolling children who are already covered by a private health insurer before insuring those who legitimately can’t afford health insurance. As I said earlier, this is nothing but a veiled attempt at socializing our health care industry. The left is slowly paving the way to ensure that Hillarycare doesn’t fail the second time around. Also, it has become clear that this bill was designed to fail the first time around so that the Democrats would have something else besides Iraq to run on in 2008. Don’t be fooled… they’re looking to regain and maintain control of the executive, not look out for the well-being of the hundreds of thousands of uninsured innocent children of America.

Justin Hunt @ November 2, 2007