| After President Bush vetoed every SCHIP bill that reached his desk and Congress couldn't override those vetoes (or reach an agreement on any sort of SCHIP bill), Governor Eliot Spitzer has taken matters into his own hands.
Gov. Spitzer announced today that the state will fully fund the SCHIP program by making room in the state's budget to do so.
The budget provides funding to expand the State's version of SCHIP, Child Health Plus, by increasing income eligibility levels from 250 percent to 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, making New York's program one of the most comprehensive in the nation. Governor Spitzer made this announcement during his State of the State address and full details of the plan will be outlined in Governor Spitzer's Executive Budget Presentation on Tuesday, January 22, 2008.
"In the face of Washington's inaction, New York State is taking bold steps to ensure the protection and welfare of society's most vulnerable residents: our children," said Governor Spitzer. "President Bush's incomprehensible decision to veto SCHIP has left the duty of insuring children to our state. New York will not allow the failure of the White House to deprive essential health care to those who need it most. This initiative has wide, bipartisan support across the state and I commend all of our partners who have worked tirelessly on behalf of New York's children."
Sen. Hillary Clinton had this response when learning of Gov. Spitzer's plans:
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton said: "I was proud to support the bipartisan legislation in Congress that would have assisted NY with expansion of Child Health Plus, but the President vetoed it leaving New York and our children on their own. Governor Spitzer's commitment to fully fund the program despite the President's actions will allow tens of thousands of uninsured children to access affordable, quality healthcare and I commend Governor Spitzer for his leadership on behalf of New York's children."
Amen to that. This was an important move. If Bush and his Republican pals won't give us the money, Gov. Spitzer will find the funding for it. Good work. |
