House Dems to vote on Obama-favored health plan (SCHIP renewal)

[sabra]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats plan to give President-elect Barack Obama an early victory on health care, specifically children's health care, next week.

Leaders say they are scheduling a vote on renewing a popular health insurance program for children. Unless Congress acts, federal funding for the program expires March 31.

The legislation will look similar to bills the House and Senate twice approved in 2007. President Bush balked at the additional $35 billion in spending in the two bills as well as the method of payment — a tobacco tax. House Democrats could not muster enough support to overcome Bush's two vetoes.

...

Pelosi said she did not know if the bill would be ready for Obama's signature on inauguration day, but she predicted "we'll be done soon."

"We don't know if the Senate will act immediately. We hope that they would," Pelosi said.

SCHIP provides health insurance for children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford coverage. About 6 million children are now enrolled.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j3moadCIQpR_tIJ2dr1Se3Gcpy2wD95IFOU09

[DJ13]

1. Will this version be paid for by increasing cigarrette taxes like the last two?

That impacts the poorer segments of society, which is supposed to be the very same people that SCHIP is supposed to help.

I've always believed you dont try to pay for health services with sin taxes, as the tax is sold as a means to force people into changing their behavior, and if its successful the revenues to pay for the health program declines.

[T Wolf]

2. As long as "our" reps continue to push insurance coverage instead of real medical care,

the tragedy of American health care will continue.

Despite the one-hundredth of-a-loaf is better-than-none group, this is not really progress. Just a slightly more compassionate conservatism.

Not the change many (but not all, obviously) wanted.

[gcomeau]

3. I wish people would keep this straight...

The Universal Health Care plan pretty much everyone here wants to see enacted IS insurance coverage... so condemning people for pushing "insurance coverage instead of real medical care" is a little silly. Universal Health Care in Canada? Insurance coverage. Universal Health Care in Europe? Insurance coverage. Single Payer, Universal, Insurance.