From Deseret News archives:
House OKs $50B expansion of CHIP
Cannon, Bishop oppose measure; Matheson backs it
In a lengthy and heated debate on the House floor, Democrats argued about the need to pass the bill to help insure poor children while Republicans tried numerous tactics including adjourning the Congress to delay progress on it.
The bill passed 225 to 204, largely along party lines. Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, voted in favor of the bill.
"This bill extends a proven program that provides access to the basic health care we want all our children to have," Matheson said. "Nothing is more important in Utah than protecting our kids."
Matheson said the bill was "win-win" because the program's increase would be funded mainly through a tax on cigarettes.
"Increasing the price of cigarettes discourages would-be teen smoking," Matheson said.
"Fewer kids that start smoking means healthier adults, with less smoking-caused disease to treat."
"This goal of the program is a noble one and it has been working, but this bill represents a huge increase in federal spending, $45 billion beyond what the president has proposed, and seems like a back door to a massive government-run, government-mandated health insurance plan for everyone," Bishop said. "It's basically Hillary Care revisited."
Bishop said through the bill, 15,000 seniors in his district would be cut from Medicare based on Medicare cuts the Democrats proposed to pay for the increase to CHIP.
"Cutting Medicare to fund CHIP is just dumb," Bishop said. "I can't support that. I also can't support the new tax on private health insurance, and the only way the Democrats' tobacco tax increase will fund this thing is if we somehow get 22 million new smokers."
Cannon also did not like the tie to a tobacco tax, saying the number of new smokers needed to fund the expansion would only add to health problems down the line. Urging people to quit smoking would only reduce the amount of money available to the program, he said.
He said resources to fund an expansion in CHIP have to come from somewhere but there are limits to how many new taxes can be created to fund it.
He said during the August recess he anticipates people will realize there is more to the bill than simply reauthorizing CHIP.
Comments
- Semi crash closes I-84 in Weber Co. 3:50 p.m.
- Fire damages Taylorsville home 3:25 p.m.
- Concert to benefit Ugandan children 3:22 p.m.
- Senate committee approves Voros 3:21 p.m.
- Mya tops fellow celebs 3:16 p.m.
- Stocks zigzag after rally 2:53 p.m.
- Placebo power behind cures 2:49 p.m.
- 'Suspect just shopping screenplay' 2:49 p.m.
- '08 loss 'learning experience' for TCU 2:47 p.m.
- AMA: repeal 'don't ask,don't tell' 2:46 p.m.
- Utah group finds homes for orphans
- Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
- Jazz blow big lead, hang on
- Y. tight ends talented tandem
- Senators want food tax restored
- Utes get extra motivation
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- BYU soccer incident still popular
- Lobo land like home for BYU lineman
- Price injured; Miles has cast removed
- House passes health care bill
252 - TCU showdown has big implications
185 - Lobo suspended
184 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Senators want food tax restored
138 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
104 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89
Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants nationwide will honor...
Meghan McCain, the daughter of former presidential candidate John...
"There is minimal if any difference between 5A and 4A at the top in most...
Does Obama expect us to believe that the Allah of suicide bombers isn't...
This is by far the weakest and most petty argument in favor of capitalism...
Third world sport? It was invented in Europe and Europe still dominates the...
Yes, the refs Do get paid at this level.
The Utes just barely won Wyoming, a team BYU just beat 52-0. TCU deserves...
My question is why do gay people have to conform to your views of morality....
Kurr - honorable mention. Awesome!
Jerry Boy... DWill and Korver were playing golf and dodgeball for charity!...
So, the American Psychological association calls attempts at 'reorientation'...



You can be the first to comment on this story.