ALEXANDRIA, VA – Passage of legislation to renew the State Children’s Health Insurance Program is imminent. First Focus President Bruce Lesley has released the following statement:
“Tonight, the Senate approved the reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, a bipartisan measure which provides critical health services to those who need it most.
We remain hopeful that as the House and Senate legislation is reconciled over August, a bipartisan compromise with be reached to insure at least five of the nine million American children without health insurance.
It has been disappointing to see how the current debate over the program has disintegrated into a highly politicized, ideological squabble over healthcare. Sadly, some members on both sides of the aisle are guilty of exploiting this bipartisan initiative, first passed by conservative Speaker Newt Gingrich, and signed into law by Democratic President Bill Clinton. Those members have forgotten what this debate is actually about –‘what is best for our nation’s children?’
Contrary to the opponents of this legislation, this bill is not an expansion of the SCHIP program. Rather, it is an extension of current law. Further, it is not an entitlement program or a step toward universal coverage. In fact, the program does not even insure half of American children currently lacking coverage. What this legislation does do is provide health coverage for 3.2 of the nation’s 6 million eligible but uninsured children.
Indeed, this bill fulfills the president’s 2004 campaign promise, where he pledged to ‘lead an aggressive effort to enroll millions of poor children who are eligible but not signed up for the government’s health insurance programs,’ and further said that ‘we will not allow a lack of attention, or information, to stand between these children and the health care they need.’
But instead, the president’s veto threat represents the biggest risk to the future of this highly successful program, which has reduced the number of uninsured American children by one-third. By threatening to veto this legislation, the president has taken an ideological position on healthcare for underprivileged children, despite overwhelming public support for the program.
The president’s funding alternative called for an increase of only $5 billion for the program. In fact, an allocation of that amount would actually increase the number of American children without health insurance from 9 to 10 million. Further, according to a recent study by the Urban Institute, with support from First Focus, the president’s tax package, which has also been posed as an alternative to insuring those without health coverage, would put children and families at a significant risk, resulting in losses of coverage and healthcare benefits.
Moreover, a recent First Focus/Frank Luntz poll indicates that 90% of Americans on both sides of the aisle favor expanding the program to cover ALL children. Clearly, the president is not exhibiting the type of bipartisan leadership the American public is looking for.”
A summary of the legislation can be found here