George Bush is opposed to government assistance with insuring kids, reports the New York Times. Specifically, he is working to block expansion of the States Child Health Insurance Program.
Administration officials have denounced the Democratic proposal as a step toward government-run health care for all. They said it would speed the erosion of private insurance coverage. And they oppose two of the main ideas contemplated by Democrats to finance expanded coverage for children: an increase in the federal tobacco tax and cuts in Medicare payments to private insurance companies caring for the elderly.
Indiana and Governor Daniels get a mention:
To return the children’s insurance program to what he calls “its original intent,†Mr. Bush has asked Congress to reduce federal payments to the states for coverage of children in families with incomes of more than twice the poverty level. (A family of four is considered poor if its annual income is less than $20,650.) At least 18 states cover children with family incomes more than twice the poverty level.
In Indiana, Gov. Mitch Daniels, a Republican who was Mr. Bush’s first budget director, recently signed a bill into law that raised the ceiling to 300 percent of the poverty level, from 200 percent.
[tags]health care[/tags]
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