The first 100 days has become a milestone for executives at all levels of government. But no executive is scrutinized more after the first 100 days than the President of the United States.
How did those four items impact New York? According to a state-by-state spreadsheet that breaks down how many people benefited from the SCHIP expansion, the ARRA and the tax credits, New Yorkers were assisted in a big way.
The spreadsheet shows that due to the expansion of SCHIP, 267,000 more children are covered that weren't covered before. The expansion of SCHIP was something that the 110th Congress did pass, but President George W. Bush stood in the way (along with fellow Republicans) and prevented the expansion from taking place. Thanks to a stronger majority in both houses of Congress and President Obama, SCHIP expansion is reality.
The Making Work Pay Tax Credit provides a refundable tax credit up to $400 for individuals and $800 for married couples. The impact of this tax credit on New York was huge. Approximately 6,760,000 New Yorkers will be recipients of the Making Work Pay Tax Credit.
The American Opportunity Tax Credit is a provision that President Obama proposed on the campaign trail that helped Americans pay for post-secondary education. The provision allows for a $4,000 partially refundable tax credit to help individuals pay for attendance at a public college or university. For those attending community colleges, it would make community college virtually free. In return, the student must complete 100 hours of community service with a government unit, hospital or non-profit organization. Nearly 295,000 New Yorkers will be recipients of the American Opportunity Tax Credit (formerly known as the Hope Credit). And while the provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was only temporary, President Obama's budget called for making the provision permanent.
And has been repeated over the last few months, 215,000 jobs would be created or saved in New York through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
There are plenty of others who will look at President Obama's first 100 days from a national perspective. I chose to look at it from a New York perspective. Are we better off now than we were under President Bush? There is no doubt about it. We have made great progress over the last three months and will continue to head in the right direction under Obama's leadership. While we have a long road head, Obama has proven over the last few months that he is willing to tackle the tough challenges, not run from them. That is an admirable trait and that is why he has been nothing but successful in his first 100 days as President of the United States.
Today, Congressman Massa commended President Obama for signing this important piece of legislation into law.
The passage of this bill initiates a four and a half year reauthorization (through FY 2013) of the Children's Health Insurance Program, which is called Child Health Plus in New York. H.R. 2 will also strengthen the program's financing, increase health insurance coverage for low-income children, and improve the quality of healthcare children receive. Currently SCHIP covers about 7.1 million children, but this expansion is projected to cover a new total of 11.2 million. In 2007, SCHIP was reported to cover about 651,853 children in New York.
With approximately 402,000 uninsured children in New York, the SCHIP expansion is estimated to cover an additional 267,000 kids - a 66% reduction in the number of uninsured children in New York.
"We fought hard for this moment and now we can celebrate a great victory for America's children," said Congressman Eric Massa. "After spending years fighting for this expansion to children's health care, with one stroke of the President's pen, we have raised the standards for America. We absolutely must take care of our children first, and today we have made a commitment to do just that. Right here in New York, we can provide an additional 267,000 children with access to healthcare. This will help us reduce the number of uninsured children in New York State by 66%."
Massa also showed his gratitude by writing a piece on Huffington Post, calling this a "day to celebrate." In that post, he discusses the importance of SCHIP and the importance of this expansion becoming law.
As a freshman member of Congress that made the expansion of children's healthcare a cornerstone of my campaign, this is a truly powerful and emotional moment for me. I have debated this issue for years and the bottom-line has remained the same - If we don't take care of our children, then what do we stand for? I believe in an America that makes our children's health and safety a top priority and now it's not just a belief, it's law.
"As a 24-year Navy veteran, I welcome the opportunity to continue serving and protecting our great country. My placement on the Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism Subcommittee as well as the Transportation Security and Infrastructure Subcommittee ensures that I will be deeply involved in Homeland Security issues," stated Rep. Massa. "Homeland Security is an environment in which I am very familiar and I welcome the opportunity to share my knowledge and expertise in this area in service to my country. I can think of nothing more important than serving to protect my country."
A lot of news from Massa today. And remember, Massa will be holding a telephone town hall meeting tonight from 6 to 7 p.m. If you are interested in taking part, call (877) 229-8493 and use the code "14608" when prompted.
In response to President Obama signing the SCHIP expansion into law, Governor David Paterson issued this statement:
"Today we celebrate a huge step forward in our efforts in New York State and across this nation to ensure that all children get the opportunity to grow up healthy. I applaud President Obama and Congress for working quickly to achieve consensus on bipartisan legislation reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). I also want to thank the members of the New York Congressional Delegation for working so diligently to ensure that the bill meets the needs of New York's uninsured children.
"Nothing is more important than the health of our children. That is why, in 2008, my administration worked with the State Legislature to ensure that all of New York's uninsured children would be eligible for low-cost or moderate health care coverage by increasing the income eligibility threshold for Child Health Plus from 250 to 400 percent of the federal poverty level. We took these important steps to protect our children, fully covering the federal funding share of the expansion after President Bush twice vetoed federal legislation that would have provided increased financial support for Child Health Plus. These actions ensured that nearly every one of the 400,000 uninsured children in New York State have access to health insurance.
"The Child Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 is a good bill for children and for New York. New York will be able to obtain federal funding for our expansion to 400 percent of the federal poverty level ($70,000 for a family of three). This bill creates incentives for enrolling the lowest income children, provides stable funding for state SCHIP programs at a time when New York and other states are facing historic fiscal challenges, and will also help the State continue to cover our most vulnerable children - like those losing coverage because their parents have lost their job or those who live in low-income families.
"New York State stands ready to utilize this legislation to cover our children. As of January, Child Health Plus, the State's SCHIP program, covered 375,000 children statewide. Since the expansion to 400 percent of the federal poverty level in September, an additional 10,000 children have been enrolled. Two-thirds of these newly enrolled children are in families with incomes between 250-300 percent of the poverty level ($44,000-$52,000 for a family of three), the fastest growing segment of uninsured children.
"New York also focused on reducing barriers to enrollment to make it easier for families to get and keep their coverage, as well as increased outreach to spread the word about the availability of affordable health insurance for all uninsured children. This legislation provides additional funds for states like New York that have been national leaders on the issues of health care outreach and enrollment."
This is a great day all around the country. The SCHIP with a Bush White House was a tough one. Now with a president who has health care on his mind, it is great to see SCHIP expanded.
Lee was one of 40 Republicans to vote in favor of the bill. He also voted differently than his predecessor, Tom Reynolds, did. Reynolds voted against SCHIP legislation on multiple occasions. Now, the people of the 26th congressional district can say that their representative voted in favor of SCHIP.
This is what Lee said after voting to support SCHIP:
"I am proud to support legislation that strengthens SCHIP's ability to provide children living in poverty with access to affordable health insurance. This program has a solid track record of covering children in families who don't have enough resources to keep pace with the rising costs of health care.
"Ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly is one of my highest priorities, which is why I am pleased that this measure does not add to the federal budget deficit. At the same time, I have concerns about whether this legislation does enough to focus coverage to help children most in need. We cannot tolerate any loopholes or abuses, especially now in the middle of an economic crisis, when the situation for many families is dire. I hope the legislative process will yield a better final product that addresses these concerns and ensures that SCHIP continues to serve the needs of low-income children first.
"Today's vote is a victory for Western New York families, but it is only a first step in our efforts to reform America's broken health care system."
I know many people in the 26th congressional district and I am certain that this vote will get their attention. In the past, we have had a representative who voted the Republican party line on most, if not all of the critical pieces of legislation that the House of Representatives voted on. Now, we have a representative who, early on in his term, has voted against his party and for the constituents and working families in his district.
We aren't going to see eye-to-eye with Chris Lee, but I will never criticize him for doing something good. This is a great vote by Lee. He deserves recognition for it, considering Reynolds never would have cast such a vote.
My kudos to Congressman Lee for his vote. It was the right thing to do.
Congressman Maffei had this to say about passing this key (and progressive) legislation:
"Congress took an important step today by passing the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act. Our latest estimation is that New York has 651,853 children currently enrolled in SCHIP. At this time of economic crisis, as we end a year when 2.6 million Americans lost their jobs, it is increasingly urgent that no children fall through the cracks and simultaneously we expand the opportunities for more working families to raise healthy children.
Today's expansion of SCHIP will insure four million additional children and gives states increased control over which families qualify for coverage. This is incredibly important for New York, where many of our families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but still struggle to afford other healthcare.
This is an important step to insuring more children, but I stress that this is only a step. It is exciting that one of President Obama's first official acts will be signing this into law-but again, this will only be the first step in what I expect will be a long and productive relationship with the Obama administration as we face a healthcare crisis. This legislation will insure 11 million American children, but I believe we can and should do more.
It makes no sense that we would allow any child to go without healthcare. Insuring our children will improve preventive care, detection and treatment earlier in a patients' life, and control our healthcare costs over the long run. I look forward to fighting for expanded coverage of all children."
Congressman Massa also spoke on passage of this bill, saying that "protecting the health of our children is not only the right thing to do, it is an imperative":
"Protecting the health of our children is not only the right thing to do, it is an imperative," said Congressman Eric Massa. "The United States has always been a leader in the world and today we have taken the lead on this issue. I am proud to have helped pass this bill which will help over 11 million children have access to health care."
The major change from the vetoed bill is the inclusion of an option for states to eliminate the 5-year waiting period for low-income uninsured children who are legally in the U.S. This expansion of children's health care will be funded by revenue from a 61 cent levy on packs of cigarettes. This plan, like both versions vetoed by President Bush during the 110th Congress, addresses the concerns of opponents by expressly excluding coverage for illegal aliens. The expanded bill does include special provisions for pregnant women and the children of Native Americans.
"I was sent to Washington to serve the families of my district," said Rep. Massa. "Today we have come together to pass a bill that's not only revenue neutral, but it also does the right thing. We have a moral obligation to improve the health of our next generation. SCHIP, or Child Health Plus as it's known in New York, is a critical first step in rebuilding and strengthening America's future," said Congressman Eric Massa.
"I'm proud to be a part of a New Direction Congress which has passed this bill and I hope the Senate follows suit quickly so that President-Elect Obama can sign this important bill in his first few days in office."
This is important because SCHIP was one of the many things we could not get through in the last Congress. Now, with a stronger majority in the House and Senate, we are able to get this bill through with strong bi-partisan support.
It should be noted that 40 Republicans, including Rep. Chris Lee, voted in support of this legislation.
This is a great day for children and a great day for our health care system throughout the country.
Look out. Eric Massa is calling out Randy Kuhl (R-Hair Club For Men) over his thoroughly misleading recent portrayal of himself as some sort of "champion" of the SCHIP program and for children's health care.
Retired Navy Commander and Democratic Congressional candidate Eric Massa will be holding a press conference at 11am on January 22nd at the Unite Here headquarters. Massa's opponent, Randy Kuhl, has voted against the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) three separate times in the last year and is set to do it once again on Wednesday of this week. Despite his continual attempts to block this program, Kuhl had no problem spending tens of thousands of dollars on a taxpayer funded mailer declaring that "no child in New York should have to live without health coverage." At this press conference, Eric Massa and supporters will call on Kuhl to live up to his promise and vote to help insure low income children in New York rather than continue to side with George Bush and tobacco lobbyists. The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 will return to the floor of the House for a veto override vote this Wednesday.
WHO Eric Massa, US Navy Commander (ret.), and candidate in New York's 29th Congressional District.
WHAT Press Conference to demand that Randy Kuhl vote to for New York's children rather than George Bush on this week's SCHIP vote.
WHEN Tuesday, January 22nd 2008 at 11am.
WHERE Unite Here Headquarters
750 East Ave
Rochester, NY 14607
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.
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.
This is rich. Randy Kuhl spent most of last year refusing to listen to the pleas of his own constituents to vote to override the president's veto of the SCHIP program that extends health coverage to children. There were TV ad campaigns that tried to change his mind. There were letters to the editor across his district pleading with him to support children's health. But, Randy Kuhl would not abandon President 24% or his Big Tobacco backers. He voted against SCHIP not once, not twice, but three times! Surely, this wasn't a popular course of action in the 29th District where those votes denied health insurance to 50,000 children.
What to do? Well, I guess you just start lying to your constituents and perversely portray yourself as a champion of the SCHIP program. No, really. Oh, and the kicker? YOU are paying for it.
For more than a week now, the families of the 29th Congressional District have been bombarded with Randy Kuhl's deceitful George Bush talking points on the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Kuhl, who has repeatedly defended the Tobacco Industry instead of protecting children, is now attempting to take credit for supporting SCHIP, despite the fact that he's voted against it three times in the last year. In his most recent effort to mislead the public, Randy Kuhl sent out a taxpayer funded mailer boldly proclaiming that "No child in New York should ever have to live without health coverage"--an ironic observation indeed, considering the fact that he actively fought to prevent over 50,000 children in the 29th District from receiving access to private health care.
"I can't help but wonder how many children could have received health care for the cost of Randy Kuhl's disingenuous tax payer funded mailer" said former cancer outreach advocate Eric Massa. "It appears that Mr. Kuhl has no problem spending tens of thousands of our tax dollars on a publication designed to distort his voting record, but he does have a problem standing up to lobbyists and George Bush. Randy Kuhl's record is clear - he has chosen to obstruct change by standing with roadblock Washington insiders and against the working families of Western New York. He simply no longer has the interests of our district in mind.
Denying health care to children is pretty damn low. Honestly, it's obscene. Lying about it at taxpayer expense is even worse. It's time for Randy to go.
I've been thinking about Paul Wellstone lately, especially in the context of the debate over SCHIP. The fact that there could be any "controversy" over providing health insurance to children is just beyond me. With all the rhetoric about the issue, all the dancing around what is actually being debated, I keep coming back to something Wellstone said during the debate about welfare "reform" back in the 90s:
You could stick a gun to my head, and I'm not going to vote for a bill that will hurt children.
As the fifth anniversary of his passing has come and gone, I certainly do miss Paul Wellstone more and more. I also miss the sense of 'forthrighteousness' and clarity that seems all too absent from our political discourse these days.
Check out this great collection of just what I am talking about.
I know it's an extremely tall order, but, more Paul Wellstones, please.
Rep. Louise Slaughter fired the first shot in the second battle over SCHIP on the floor of the US House today. She even called out the thugs who harassed the family of you Graeme Frost in an attempt to somehow discredit a program that has truly overwhelming support across the nation.
In spite of the unquestionable benefits, and in spite of the overwhelming popularity and accomplishments of this program, SCHIP is under attack.
We saw reprehensible smear attacks on families who were brought into the public eye to showcase the benefits of this program. In the face of the life saving chance that was bestowed on the family due to this program, the harshest rhetoric was not cast against the bill, but against this family, including the children.
We saw persons go to the home of one of the families and harass them in public, talk radio and blogs making wild and audacious accusations, and we even saw staffers on Capitol Hill who clearly intended to assist this fabricated, cold-hearted smear campaign.
It is simply beyond comprehension to me that many are willing to score political points by denigrating our nation's children - particularly those who owe their very lives to this program.
But the American people saw through their smear attacks. They understand that the health of our nation's children is simply not worth scoring a few political points.
There's more, including video of the entire speech, on the flip...
USAction is rolling out a new TV ad highlighting Randy Kuhl's (R-Hair Club For Men) recent vote to uphold President Bush's veto of the SCHIP reauthorization. From an emailed press release:
New TV Ad Targets Rep. Kuhl for Supporting Bush's Veto of Children's Health Care
USAction launched a major new TV ad campaign this week targeting Rep. Randy Kuhl for standing with President Bush and against providing health care for millions of children. Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives fell short last week of overriding President Bush's veto of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, meaningful legislation which would provide healthcare for 268,000 more kids in New York.
The ad, titled "Bethany's Story," began airing Monday in the Rochester market. It features Bethany Wilkerson, a two-year-old girl who was born with several holes in her heart. Bethany's parents were unable to afford private health insurance, and only because of the SCHIP children's health care program is she healthy today.
"Members of Congress who voted to deny SCHIP coverage to 10 million children like Bethany should know that our fight for children's health care continues. We fully expect that Congress will vote again on virtually the same kids' health care bill, and that those members who voted the wrong way will feel the heat from their constituents," said USAction Program Director Alan Charney.
Check it out:
It's a good spot, but I think it may be the least of Randy's worries right now. I was fortunate enough to spend a little time with the next Representative from NY-29, Eric Massa, yesterday, and all I can say is that Eric is on it these days. He was a great candidate last time. He's much better now and if Kuhl continues to "superglue himself to George W. Bush", (my favorite new line from the Massa campaign), he's going to find himself, as Bush's dad once said, "in deep doo doo."
The common thread is a failure to see the world as it is- a complex place where the demands of ideology on single-issues should bend to reality when it comes to creating real government policy.
For example, we all have seen Bush's idea of healthcare for the poor. However, the media still fails to expose perhaps the most absurd part of Bush's argument, which is that a true fiscal conservative would support it because it can defray the heavy costs associated with emergency room care.
In fact, hospitals are starting to provide free preventative care to frequent visitors of their emergency rooms in order, among other things, to protect their bottom line.
But the Republican mind doesn't understand this. Who cares if overall costs of government will be reduced, which will make the country as a whole a more business-friendly place if one particular politically powerful industry will have fewer victims to suck money out of until they die?
Not a Republican.
And the reduced costs to the economy with all the fewer sick days taken by would-be smokers that are avoided because of the higher prices of cigarettes that the S-CHIP legislation would provide through the increased cigarette sales taxes?
Not the republican.
Now, switch to the immigrant drivers-license brew-ha-ha.
In the age of international terrorism hitting US soil, wouldn't it make sense to have a population that is simultaneously overlooked and vilified for cheap political gain be brought into the sunlight?
From a law enforcement and security perspective, it is far preferable for the
state to know who is living in it and driving on its roads, and to have their photograph and their
address on file than to have large numbers of people living in our cities whose identity is totally
unknown to the government.
Shouldn't Republicans, the supposed party of law-and-order and strength against terrorism be supporting Spitzer wholeheartedly on this?
But they aren't. Largely because they propagate lies about the illegal immigrants to fool the white working-class into voting for them while the real actors who are screwing over that same white working-class economically are paying the GOP to do things like block S-CHIP.
Responsible leadership by legislators on the state or national level?
We've got two outstanding challengers to two terrible Reps out in western New York. Today, both of those terrible Reps, Tom Reynolds and Randy Kuhl, voted again to deny health insurance to the children of working families across the nation and to an additional 286,000 children in New York. It was a reprehensible vote and both of our challengers, Jon Powers and Eric Massa, strong Democrats both, have released strong statements condemning this shameful pattern of voting against health care for kids.
Jon Powers:
Today Tom Reynolds demonstrated just how out of touch he is with everyday Western New Yorkers. While taxpayers are footing the bill for Congress to enjoy the Cadillac of Health Care plans, we have people in this community struggling to insure their children. For the third time Congressman Reynolds has voted against a bill that would help parents do exactly that. Tom Reynolds has confirmed what Western New Yorkers have long feared - he lacks the leadership to change Washington and the courage to defy this President.
Eric Massa:
Randy Kuhl superglues himself to Big Tobacco and George W. Bush at the cost of children's lives
Retired Navy Commander and Congressional candidate for New York's 29th District, Eric Massa, blasted his opponent for voting to sustain President Bush's veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) today. Kuhl, who took an additional $1,000 from tobacco giant RJ Reynolds just one week before the initial vote, voted to block approximately 10 million children in low income families from receiving access to private healthcare, including approximately 10,000 in the New York's 29th District. As noted by the American Cancer Society, this vote against kids could cost around 900,000 lives.
"Today, Randy Kuhl drew a line in the sand," said cancer survivor and Congressional Challenger Eric Massa. "Randy Kuhl, George Bush and their friends the tobacco lobbyists are on one side of the line and working families, the American Cancer Society, and doctors all around the country are on the other. Kuhl has once again shown his loyalty to his boss George Bush, by rubberstamping the President's agenda, no matter what the cost. He does not understand the priorities of Americans if he's standing up against an overwhelmingly bi-partisan proposal to care for our kids. It doesn't get anymore black and white than that."
"We need a change in this Nation, not more rubberstamping of the President's failed policies. My opponent has been right there on all of the important issues, lockstep with the President and our community deserves better. Randy Kuhl has decided to stand with the President and his downright lies to keep thousands of children out of the doctor's offices. George Bush wants a compromise that will deny health insurance to more children, and I don't think that's an acceptable compromise. Sacrificing the health of our children is unconscionable and I promise that I will stand up for our kids once I am elected to Congress. "
Today, the House of Representatives held a vote to override President Bush's veto of SCHIP, however they ended up 13 votes short of the 2/3 majority required to override. Had this bill passed the House again, it would have likely passed the Senate as well. Had Randy Kuhl and just 12 other Congressmen changed their votes, 10 million children would be receiving health care rather than being pushed away by a heartless administration and their loyal rubberstamps like Randy Kuhl.
The House failed to override President 24%'s veto of the SCHIP reauthorization, a bill with overwhelming public support. The final vote was 273 to 156. As expected, Reps. Tom Reynolds (R-Pederasty) and Randy Kuhl (R-Hair Club For Men) voted to sustain the veto and, in effect, for more sick children with no health insurance. No doubt they will vote for sending even more hundreds of billions of dollars to Iraq will they might as well be set alight on the bloody sand.
The man who is asking for another $200 BILLION dollars to sink into the bloody sands of Iraq today, as expected, vetoed the renewal of the SCHIP program and denied health insurance to millions of American children. Two New York Congresswomen respond.
Today, in a move that surprised no one, President Bush unceremoniously used his dusty veto pen on SCHIP. And while the president's veto may have been expected, it should not diminish the gravity of his decision to rip away health insurance from the 6 million American children already covered by SCHIP and to prevent another 4 million from being insured.
SCHIP currently provides health care coverage to six million children that otherwise would not. Nearly 400,000 children are enrolled in New York alone, the second highest number in the nation. The bill we passed last week with the support of more than 45 Republican Members of Congress adds coverage for more than four million children, to insure ten million.
SCHIP is a program both enormously popular with the public and already proven enormously successful. It is the reason why President Bush pledged on the campaign trail in 2004 that "America's children must also have a healthy start in life. ... we will lead an aggressive effort to enroll millions of poor children who are eligible but not signed up for the government's health insurance programs. We will not allow a lack of attention, or information, to stand between these children and the health care they need."
Now that the president has chosen to ignore the 10 million reasons to support SCHIP, the battle returns to Congress where I will be leading the fight to override the president's veto because the health of millions of children the president deems unimportant are literally on the line.
The governors of New York and California just issued a press release (no link yet) calling on the Bush administration to reverse a truly perverse ruling that would deny health insurance to millions of children across the nation. I'm no fan of the Governator, but he's spot on here. These are our children we are talking about here and this action by the White House must not stand.
GOVERNORS SPITZER AND SCHWARZENEGGER CALL ON PRESIDENT BUSH TO REVERSE FEDERAL RULING DENYING HEALTH CARE COVERAGE TO THOUSANDS OF UNINSURED CHILDREN
Governor Eliot Spitzer and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger joined together today in calling on President George Bush to reverse new rules instituted by his administration to deny thousands of children health care coverage.
On August 17, 2007, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which administers the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), announced new rules governing the program. Among these were the requirement that until a state enrolls 95 percent of those eligible for SCHIP in households making under 200 percent of the poverty line ($41,300 for a family of four), they cannot provide coverage to children in families making above 250 percent of the poverty line ($51,625 for a family of four).
In a letter sent to the President today, Governor Spitzer and Governor Schwarzenegger called on CMS to reverse this action in order to allow states that contain areas with higher costs of living, like New York and California, to have the flexibility to cover more children. Moreover, they also asked CMS to repudiate other troublesome new rules, including the requirement that children eligible for SCHIP must go without coverage during a year-long waiting period after enrolling, and that states expanding SCHIP must have a less than 2 percent decline in employer-sponsored insurance.
“Ensuring that all children in this country have access to quality health care is a foremost national priority and an issue that rises above party lines,” said Governor Spitzer. “States are showing great leadership on this issue and New York was proud to achieve a bi-partisan agreement this year to provide health care to the state’s 400,000 uninsured children. Governor Schwarzenegger and I are joining together today to call on President Bush to do the right thing and roll back these troubling federal roadblocks. These federal rules represent the wrong prescription for our children and will deny thousands of children access to the health insurance they need and deserve.”
Sometimes in politics, you think you've seen it all. Turns out I was wrong.
Just when you thought things at the White House couldn't get any stranger, the president has decided it is good public policy to increase the number of uninsured children in our country.
