Advertise Here

Deliver your message to thousands of readers every day.

Our readers are influential opinion makers - politicians, journalists and activists.

Learn more about ads.

About Us

Frank D. Russo

The California Progress Report is published by Frank D. Russo, a longtime observer of and participant in California politics.

About Frank Russo.
About California Progress Report.

Got a news tip? Want to write a guest column? Contact Frank here.

Sponsors

Books

Why California Needs the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorized, Not Downsized

Mike-Thompson.jpg By Mike Thompson
Member of Congress
First District of California

Occasionally, an issue comes before Congress that is so clearly aligned with American values that Members across the political spectrum come together to support a solution. Giving uninsured children access to health care is one of those issues. And the strong bipartisan House and Senate votes for the reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program were examples of how Congress is trying to cut through politics to improve the lives of American families.

The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP, known in California as Healthy Families) has a history steeped in bipartisanship. A Democratic President and a Republican Congress created the program, which today covers about 6.6 million American children – 800,000 of whom live in California. They are members of families that make no more than 250 percent over the poverty line – too much to participate in Medicaid and too little to afford private insurance.

This reauthorization guarantees that all of the kids currently enrolled in SCHIP will continue to receive coverage – and gives states the tools and the resources they need to find and enroll almost four million additional eligible children. California alone has identified 200,000 kids that would be immediately eligible for enrollment, if only it had the adequate resources.

This bill provides those resources. It gives states incentives for ensuring that only the neediest children are enrolled. And it is completely paid for. It has the support of 43 Governors – including our own – in addition to the support of an unusual cadre of bedfellows: private insurance companies, organized labor, the pharmaceutical industry, and hundreds of leading health and children’s advocacy organizations.

Unfortunately, there is one person in Washington who can turn even this issue into a political football. This week, President Bush vetoed Congress’ reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. On the heels of his request for an additional $190 billion for the war in Iraq, he has told Congress to spend no more than $5 billion on children’s health care. If the president gets his way, SCHIP won’t be reauthorized – it will be downsized. This means 20 percent of the children currently enrolled – over 1.4 million kids – will be kicked out of the program.

These are real children who live in our communities. Today, in Yolo County, more than 3,700 kids are enrolled in Healthy Families. They get primary and preventive care – which means that they are less likely to end up in the emergency room. And if they do end up in the ER – they have insurance. Our parents and grandparents used to tell us to be “penny wise rather than a pound foolish.” Investing $35 billion in the SCHIP program today is an infinitely less costly proposition than providing no health care to uninsured children – because, one way or the other, as a nation, we will pay for it later.

Naysayers, with the President as their loudest voice, have concocted a variety of myths about the SCHIP reauthorization. I have long preferred facts to myths, so let me set the record straight: This bill does not increase entitlement spending, because SCHIP is not an entitlement program – it is a capped block grant. This bill doesn’t allow states to cover the children of “rich” parents, nor does it allow them to cover illegal immigrants or parents or childless adults. This bill opens the door to quality health care for 10 million of America’s children. And arguments to the contrary are dead wrong.

The President and his followers can say whatever they like about this reauthorization. But as Republican Senator Charles Grassley, a staunch supporter of this legislation, said on the Senate floor last week, “you can’t call a cow a chicken and have it be true.”

The truth is, the President’s veto of the SCHIP reauthorization is politicking of the worst kind. It directly contradicts the priorities and the will of the American people, who overwhelmingly support Congress’ efforts to extend this program. And it is a shameful move from the President of the richest country in the world – home to more than 9.4 million uninsured children.

In the near future, I will join a majority of my colleagues in casting my vote to override this veto – and we will continue doing so until we prevail. America understands, even if the President doesn’t, that reauthorizing SCHIP in order to expand health care for our children is a fight we cannot afford to lose.

Mike Thompson was first elected to represent California's 1st Congressional District in 1998. The district includes all of Napa, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties as well as portions of Yolo and Sonoma Counties. This article originally appeared in the People's Vanguard of Davis, and is republished with their permission.

Posted on October 10, 2007

Comments

Well we now know who the anti American politicians are. The politicians who are against the American people. And in it JUST FOR THEM-SELF. They are the ones that voted against Americas kids. And for the insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and doctors. That have been raping the American people, and even the little children, and babies of America with abusive, injurious, mutilating, murderous health care.

Each of you should find out if your politicians voted for, or against the children of America on September 25, 2007. By voting for, or against SCHIP.

A bipartisan majority of both the House, and Senate voted for SCHIP, and for the kids. But those that voted against the kids allowed Bush to veto the bill. As he promised. This is outrageous. And each of you must act NOW!

The kids need you to fight for them. And you need to fight for your-self. And for your family's to get SCHIP, and HR 676 passed ASAP. Now that we know who many of the obstacles are. We can really get down to work. You can google "congressional vote record" to get a list of all the politicians that voted against Americas kids, and who will vote against HR. 676 Universal National Health Care For All Americans. See (http://thomas.loc.gov/home/rollcallvotes.html, http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress)

These are the politicians that all of you, republican, or democrat need to aggressively start working to replace. Either by supporting strong candidates for their office who fully support SCHIP, and HR 676. Or by running against them your-self. As I have said before. Don't worry that you may not be good enough. Anyone that supports SCHIP, and HR 676 Universal National Health Care For All is a better person than any politician that doesn't support them will ever be. No matter how big their name may be. Forget your fears, and your ego. This is bigger than any individual or group. Run if you must. And run hard for your-self, your fellow Americans and the health, and life of the little children. Take care of your self. And be tough.

It may be that some of these politicians will have a change of heart. And will support SCHIP, and HR 676 Universal National Health Care for All Americans. They will get a chance to prove it. We all make mistakes some times. Hope for the best. But aggressively prepare for the worst. So you will be certain to take them out if they don't support SCHIP, and HR 676. I am appealing to everyone. Young, and old rich, or poor. Whatever your back ground. As long as you understand the crisis. And will support SCHIP, and HR 676 with your whole heart. Then do it. And if there are several of you that run. And someone other than you that supports SCHIP, and HR 676 looks like they will have a better chance of a win than you. Drop out at the best strategic time for them. And throw your wholehearted support behind them for SCHIP, and HR 676.

Every American needs to do every thing they can to put maximum pressure on these politician's that voted against the kids health care. And see to it that they don't have a snow balls chance in hell of reelection unless they change. And wholeheartedly support passage of SCHIP, and HR 676 Universal health Care For All. There are many things you can do. And if you are creative you will think of more things you can do.

Some of the things you can do now. Is to identify which candidates can run against them that will fully support passage of SCHIP, and HR 676. If you cant find one. Then you must step up to the plate. And run your-self. Or find some people that will. Run if you must. And run hard.

Everyone who's politicians voted for SCHIP should start contacting their neighbors in the states, and districts that voted against SCHIP. Use the information above to get the information on the politicians states, and districts. Then start giving your neighbors in these districts a call. Write them a letter. Or send them a email if you have an address. Contact their newspapers. And online message board's. You can use google, and yahoo directory to lookup names, address, and phone numbers of your neighbors in other states.

Then contact them. And in a neighborly way. Let them know that their politician "by name" voted against health care for the kids. And because of that Bush was able to veto a bipartisan bill to assure health care for many of your kids. Ask them to contact there politician and put pressure on them to pass SCHIP, and HR 676 when they come up again. And to make them veto proof from Bush. And to please stay on top of these two issues SCHIP, and HR 676 Universal National Health Care For All. And keep the pressure on. And keep the pressure building. And to please vote for the candidate in the next election that will support SCHIP, and HR 676. And to vote against any politician that will not support SCHIP, and HR 676.

Also contact your family, and friends in these other states. And ask them to contact their politicians that voted against the kids. contact the National media. And tell them that you want them to broadcast the vote for the kids live. Scheduled for October 18, 2007. Call the medias sponsors and tell thing you expect the media to broadcast the vote for the Kids live. especially NPR, and PBS. Do every thing in your power to focus the total attention of America on the vote for the kids. Talk it up at work, and at your job. Unless you work for the drug, insurance, hospital industry, or doctors. Your employer should be very supportive of SCHIP, and HR 676 Universal National Health Care For ALL. Medical Care is killing American business.

Ask everyone that can to stop what they are doing. And watch, or listen to the vote. Ask your employers, restaurants. The sports bars. Every body to stop what they are doing and tune in to the vote for the kids. If you are driving tune in. And turn on your car lights for the kids. And if you can do it safely pull over, and honk your horns for the kids. Do every think you can. Pullout all the stops. To make sure that Washington knows you will be watching this vote with vengeance in mind. If they fail the kids again.

If you need any motivation at all. I have posted long lists of horrific truths about the disgraceful state of American health care. But my space here is limited. So I will give you just one of the many horrible facts about health care in America. And I am warning you. Brace your-self.

"This current generation of children is the first generation of children in the history of America who's life expectancy is less than that of their parents. And they have already started dieing at an alarming rate." Shocking!! Horrific, Catastrophic.

We must do everything we can to save Americas children. And the American people. You can do this America. No matter how much money the insurance, pharmaceutical, hospitals, and doctors line the politicians pockets with. This fight is for the kids, and for your life. It's on each of your shoulders individually. You must not fail America. You must not fail.

Pickup the sword. Hold it tight. And use it. :-(

Posted by: jacksmith01 at October 10, 2007 04:32 PM

This is the bill that covers ADULTS. Why should I or you pay of a adults health insurance. A quick check at ehealthinsurance.com shows many plans under 50 bucks. Children fine, poor kids great, but 24 year old guy GET REAL.

Quick google search showed this! BAD BILL!
A "second look at the facts" reveals more than a few problems with the bill. This is a program designed to provide health care for low-income children. But in Illinois, 45 percent of the SCHIP recipients are adults -- not children. According to the state's own projections, Illinois will spend more SCHIP money on adults than on children during the next fiscal year. Meanwhile, it's estimated that nationwide, more than a half-million eligible low-income children are not being covered.

Posted by: Just the facts at October 11, 2007 10:21 PM

Now that SCHIP has been 'vetoed' by our Mr. Thompson's president...LET'S ALL GET TOGETHER AND ASK MR. THOMPSON WHY HE FAILS TO CO-SPONSOR HR 676-UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE BILL? If the Democrats would get behind this one, the SCHIP would be unnecessary!

Oh, I forgot...Mr. Thompson has taxpayer funded healthcare---it's we who do not!
Mr. Thompson also continues to vote to fund the Iraq war, while saying we cannot 'afford' healthcare for all. The cost of basic healthcare for all would be one third of the cost of this insane war.

Mr. Thompson, WHY ARE YOU CONTINUING TO TOADY TO THE INSURANCE COMPANIES? WHY CAN'T YOU BE LIKE MR. LANTOS, BACA, LEE, LYNCH, PATRICK KENNEDY, AND THE OTHER 'REAL DEMOCRATS' WHO ACTUALLY REPRESENT THEIR CONSTITUENCIES?

Posted by: Ila Padula at October 18, 2007 07:17 PM

I find it strange that people that have everything don't want anybody else to have anything. Bush gave him self a 100% pay increase $250,000 to $500,000 a year for life. He also gets free health care that we pay for but children do not deserve the same. Why do rich people deserve welfare like tax brakes free health care and so on? You have to pay taxes to get a tax brake and the more money you make the more tax brakes you get. But hard working people that do not get 3 months off a year like our senate, congress and president get don't deserve health care for there children? Bush and our congress and senate are part time workers and they are paying them self’s 5 to 20 time what the average American makes. Let’s just apply the same standard that they live by to the rest of the country. But raising minimum wage from 5 to 7 dollars an hour the Cons can not support. I think the real problem is we need to get rid of the 2 family systems in the u.s.a. The mafia is stronger then it ever has been and it is called the U.S. government. Run by the crime bosses Bush and Clinton. Thanks to them my family of 3 has to pay $24,000 to pay for there holly war. The average pay in the U.S.A for a year. 50% of Americans make less then $24,000 dollars a year. I think that is criminal. But there is no class war in this country? CEOs claim it is there JOB and that by law they are required to not pay a living wage to maximize profit for the rich. I call that a class war. Again CEO's don't cut there pay to maximize profit. They are reqired by law to cut there pay but I guess that only applies to the working class. They poison our kids with unsafe toys from china but health care for children is wrong. Hell these toy company that are unamercan and import lead filled toxic toys should pay for health care for all children. Since they laid there parents off and poisoned there kids to maximize profits for the rich.

Posted by: endo at October 25, 2007 12:03 PM

Post a comment




Remember Me?

(you may use HTML tags for style)

Get email updates!

Get Email Updates

Want the California Progress Report by email? Once a week, we'll send you the latest and greatest headlines.



© 2008 California Progress Report Our copyright and fair use policy.
Powered by Mandate Media. Logo design by Jane Norling.

RSS

Stat tracker