For Immediate Release
Office of the Press
Secretary, the White House
October 25, 2007
Just the
Facts: Top Five Reasons the Democrats' "New" Schip Bill Is Actually More of the
Same
Legislation Still Fails To Cover Poor Children
First
"The Administration strongly supports reauthorization of the State Children's
Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in a way that puts poor children first. ...
Because H.R. 3963 has not addressed in a meaningful way the objections that
caused the President to veto H.R. 976, the President will veto this legislation
if it is presented to him without significant changes."
– Statement of Administration Policy,
10/25/07
1. The
Democrats' new legislation continues to allow States to
avoid covering poor children first. The bill repeals the
requirement that 95 percent of children below 200 percent of the Federal poverty
level be covered before coverage is extended to children from higher income
families. The Democrats' new legislation also permits States to keep
adults on the program through 2012.
2. The
Democrats' new legislation continues to cover children in families earning more
than $62,000 per year (300 percent of the Federal poverty level).
Proponents claim the Democrats' new legislation caps income eligibility
at 300 percent of the Federal poverty level, but the legislation would not
completely close the income disregard loophole. Under this loophole,
States could still enroll children in families with incomes higher than $62,000
a year by ignoring part of the family's income. In addition, the
legislation continues to grandfather New Jersey at $73,000 per year (350 percent
of the Federal poverty level).
3. The
Democrats' new legislation continues to raise taxes to move 2 million children
covered by private health insurance onto government-run programs with fewer
choices and longer lines. Federal revenues are at an all-time
high, and no tax increase of any kind is needed to finance SCHIP
reauthorization. The President's Budget offsets not only the new SCHIP
spending but also proposes an additional $92 billion in mandatory savings over
five years. These proposals represent more than enough to offset any
additional spending in the context of the Democrats' new bill. The new
legislation also continues to fund SCHIP with a budget gimmick that would not
provide stable funding and actually costs more than the earlier bill,
notwithstanding supposed improvements in policy.
4. The
Democrats' new legislation continues to allow SCHIP to cover ineligible
individuals. The legislation imposes no sanction if a person
fraudulently attests to being a U.S. citizen. During the period of time
that the State is conducting an investigation (if Social Security finds an
inconsistency with the stated Social Security number), it must continue medical
assistance to the applicant.
5. The
Democrats' new legislation shifts more responsibility to the Federal government.
SCHIP has always been a Federal-State partnership (thus the
reason for "S" in the title). The Democrats' bill has the effect of
reducing States' financial responsibility by providing performance bonuses that
can be used to lower the State match requirement. The fiscal
responsibility of providing children's health care should be shared. These
bonus payments only serve to increase fraud and abuse by emphasizing enrollment
at any cost as opposed to enrollment of eligible children.
The Statement of Administration Policy on H.R. 3963 is available at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/legislative/sap/110-1/hr3963sap-h.pdf
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