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CHIP veto riles advocates

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Grant | 1:54 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
I am completely disgusted with our president's inability to act in a bipartisan manner. Republicans should be outraged at the image he has and continues to give their party whether they believe in most of the points of the republican agenda or not.

Unfortunately, there is little solace in knowing that he will go down as the worst president in US history. We are the generation that will be spending our lives fixing Bush's messes.
Brack | 2:19 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Advocates are blind to what this bill really would do. First, well off families that can easily afford insurance will drop their own insurances and join this program....thus enriching themselves even more at taxpayer expense. That's you and me, folks!
And secondly the greedy crooks will be coming out from under their rocks, rubbing their greedy, thieving hands together in anticipation of how easy it will be to rip off billions of these dollars to line their own pockets with, with no care or concern about the truly needy children in our society that need this help, and again to the enormous detriment of us, the taxpayers. Bush, for once is doing the right thing for the right reasons!
Jacqueline | 4:33 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Ah ha..Now I see why the Dems havent impeached Bush. The moral majority "values voters" must have proof positive (as actions speak louder than words) that the only real "values" this administration is concerned with are the sum totals of all their corporate profits! Lou Dobbs, your right!
Comments continue below
chuck | 5:28 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Once again the left asks for too much, and is then outraged when the adults in this country tell them 'no.' A reasonable request to extend the program would have been quietly signed, and gained them no political points.
Wondering | 5:40 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Grant, I'm wondering how a man that was elected for a second term could possibly "go down as the worst president in history." Children who aren't getting medical attention under the present system would have the same trouble under any system--their parents. Ask the Shriners if they would ever turn down any child who needed help.
i buy insurance | 5:46 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
when are we going to start being accountable for ourselves and stop taking handouts?
CHIP is for the kids | 6:11 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
I have to disagree.. I feel that once again Bush has made a decision soleley based on the fact that this decision and reason for this decision will once again keep the middle to low income tax payers attention away fron his lack of leadership, and nees to control the world. Our so called president is a tyrant of sort and is only for the wealthy... Thats why he appointed a V.P. who actually has as much money as he does.
Brack...please reconsider | 6:15 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Brack...you are not informed on what the requirements for CHIP are. A "well off family" will not be able to qualify for CHIP, therefore, they cannot accomplish what you have asserted.

Additionally, there are already crooks taking advantage of every program private or public. Why deny the children of America reasonable health care because of the �bad apples?� You have a very weak argument. Get your facts straight and then really consider the issues.
Granny | 7:17 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Brack is right. Ezra Taft Benson, who knew what was going on in Washington, said that these "do-gooders" were possessed with "a fervid but false solicitude for the poor, whereby they gain mastery and control over them."
We have allowed greedy crook insurance moguls to raise the cost of medical care outrageously to line their pockets. (And I have lived long enough and kept track well enough to know that this is true.)
The constitution does not allow the federal government to meddle in welfare at all. It is to "promote the general welfare" not provide it by taxing us out of house and home. Go Bush.
goldengriffy | 7:19 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
It sounds like you are not informed. This new bill would take the poverty level up to 80,000 dollars. So you are wrong when you say a well off family will not qualify. I make half of that and have two kids and I am doing fine. Plus this bill will give free insurance to all the illegal aliens. So please reconsider and realize the President is doing the right thing again.
Debbie | 7:36 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Brack's right and I have proof. My sisterinlaw is on this program and they make more than our family (over 60,000). While on it, they bought a house (22,000 down) qualified for 2 NEW cars and wear all new clothes. Does that sound like "low income"!? They have health insurance offered through their job but turned down the child's part because the govt is cheaper-- and then they laugh about it and try to encourage others to take advantage of loopholes too. Our family is self employed and pay out the wazoo for private health insurance because I chose to have my children and I will be responsible for them. I believe there are many who are truely in need of this program but unfortunatly they are being hurt because of families looking for a free ride like my inlaws. Pres. Bush is trying to find solutions to make sure those who truely need the help get it and others who can take responsibility for their own families do it!!
Jake | 7:40 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
I find it ironic that so many people are for or against a bill that they themselves have never read. They base their opinion solely on what others tell them they should believe.
Anonymous | 7:52 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Ezra Taft Benson said politicans gain votes promising what is not there's to give by people asking what is not there's and commandment not to covet is broken.

I know people who get school lunches and other thing's because they expect it don't know how to manage money and if free let's take it. No free lunch someone else just foot's the bill.
George | 7:56 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
The "promote the general welfare" statement is in the preamble of the Constitution. It, the preamble, states the purpose of the document. The Consititution then goes on to outline the powers and duties of the federal government. And there are not very many of them. The Constitution does not grant the government the power to do anything it wants so long as it promotes the general welfare.

The expansion of the SCHIP program (and the President vetoed an expansion of the program) would only move the country one step closer to socialized medicine and all of its problems. Those republicans who supported the program are, in my opinion, filling the role of "useful idiots" in the Lenin model of government.
want info | 8:06 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Where can I find the proposed bill and the current requirements for CHIP?

I think it's important to know how this bill would change the program. If middle-income families are receiving aid for health insurance, it certainly seems like social health care. However, if this new bill would prohibit children from getting health insurance whose parent's can not afford it, I think it is something we all need to be concerned about.
Craig | 8:15 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Amen George. Hatch is an embarrasment to Utah. People need to learn to be responsible for themselves and thier children. This is about the first good thing Bush has done!
Give me a break | 8:15 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
People take advantage of programs all the time...it is not right, and they are wrong for doing it. However, this does not supersede the fact that CHILDREN who are uninsured need to be insured and have decent medical care...end of story. This principle stands regardless of all the deceitful adults in our society that "ride the loop holes" and take advantage. For those of you who are saying my sister is doing this and my friend is doing that, it is your responsibility to call them out on their deceitful way. That is the only way to curb all the free riders. Finally, all of you opposing CHIP are using arguments that imply the adults. This is about THE CHILDREN.
SMH | 8:15 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
I don't know who is right here.
All I know is that I'm a middle class mom who makes barely enough money to not be categorized as 'low income', but not enough money to afford the medical needs of my children. I put off many doctor and dental visits because I simply can't afford it on my tight budget.
But yet many illegals can take their kids to the Doc anytime w/o having to pay a thin dime. My taxes pay for their kids to get the medical care I can't afford to give my own! That outrages me.
I'm a US citizen, I work, I pay taxes, but my insurance premiums and co-pays and deductibles are so so high, I can't afford to do all that I need for my kids health. Something has to change.
Iron | 8:35 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Thank you Chris Cannon, Bob Bennett, and Rob Bishop. At least they had courage enough to say NO. This is set up to be funded by an increase in smokers. How can we be honest with ourselves by saying on one hand, "smoking is bad" but on the other that "we need to recruit 20 million more smokers to pay for this new government program?

Chuck is right. I think that if the program would have been reauthorized as it was then it would have received overwhelming support. But to expand it in such a dramatic way isn't going to work.

We all want children to be insured but creating another government program isn't the answer.
Socialized Medicine | 8:37 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
President Hatch, please stop trying to implement socialism in America. We don't want it!
Break the cycle | 9:28 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Give Me a Break,
The bleeding heart Liberals only want us to believe it's for the children. "let's tug on the giving and tender heart strings of the American people." They might as well include sucshine, cuddly puppies, and moms good ol' apple pie in the promotion of this law. Many families truly are broke and need health care, but $80,000 as a poverty cap? Please!!!Give me a break. There's enough fraudulent use of the responsible tax payers money being carried out today, without allowing this incredibly ill-concieved legislation to be passed. This law will surely hurt more children then it will help. Do we really want the next generation hooked even deeper into the so called 'free government handout' philosophy? Thumbs up to Bush. he's right for once.
To Debbie and SMH | 9:27 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Debbie, This may sound harsh but take a stand and report your sister-in-law and her family. What they are doing is illegal! If they were offered insurance for their children through your husband's work they are required to inform the CHIP office. This is one of the reasons that families like SMH's can't enroll! They are taking advantage of the system and they need to be held accountable--do it anonymously but do it now!!!!
Hatch is clueless | 9:33 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
This bill is more proof that Orrin Hatch is more a DC guy and less a Utahn. He has been out of touch for a number of years. 30 plus years is too long in a US Senate seat.

Socialized medicine will be a mess for the USA. I lived in England for 8 years and my neighbors did nothing but complain about their health care system. Those seeking good health care in the UK used the BUPA system not the NHS.
Zinc | 9:45 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Ya, Chris Cannon and Rob Bishop are real Einsteins...just like the rest of you.
East Coast | 9:54 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
I live in a different state and when I recently looked at what middle class people would pay for insurance for a few kids under CHIP, it is WAY more than getting family insurance through a large employer.

You might want to look at actual information before throwing around your opinions.
Socialized Medicine is Great! | 9:56 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
In Europe we live longer, we all get the health care we need and ALL of our children are treated when they are ill.

Why do you lie to yourself by comparing Health Care for all to Socialism?!! You clearly have no idea what you are talking about.

I'm not trying to attack you on this, but it's so evident that the you who describe Health Care for everybody as something that is riddled with problems or something that is somehow attached to Socialism, are talking about things you know nothing about.

In the US thousands upon thousands children die every year needlessly. Children that, if they were living in Europe, would be alive and healthy.

Socialized Medicine is Great. It's about compassion and the right to live. You should long for it!!



Constitution | 9:59 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
The simple fact is that it is not the role of the Federal government to provide health care to the populace. Providing health care for the poor is the role of charitable organizations.
DS | 10:04 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Protestors angered about the Veto need to calm down. Every member of Congress AND the President support CHIP and covering children - they disagree on the level of funding.

Congress has already passed a continuing resolution that insures the viability of CHIP at current levels through November 17th giving them time to work with the President to come up with a compromise.

While I personally stand to benefit if additional funding is given to programs such as CHIP I think it's totally brainless to do so without more comprehensive reforms to our current Healthcare system.

The issue is NOT so simple as give more money to the system and things will be better and if you don't give more money then you must be unemotional towards children.

The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission jointly published a 300+ page report a few years ago detailing the problems with the current Healthcare financing structures. I can't go into a summary of that in this limited comment space but suffice it to say - simply throwing money at this problem will only accelerate an impending collapse.
BigPoet | 10:37 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
This is a sham. The children of illegal aliens were likely to have been the greatest beneficiaries of the bill. How many are there out there? No one can say because the government won't allow that information to be collected and shared. There is no right to receive health care that exists in this nation or in it's constititution.
Great in Europe? | 11:47 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Research your continent a bit more. Those who need the most, don't get what they need.
Bubba | 11:58 a.m. Oct. 4, 2007
I am a responsible citizen and they owe my kids insurance! I get so mad at those politicians that don't understand basic needs. Let's dump BUSH!
KH | 12:20 p.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Grant,
Just because a bill is labeled "Bipartisan" doesn't mean it is "Right" and the President must fall in line. I think Bush is just against out of control spending in Washington, not a "baby-hater" as the protesters make him out to be.

President Bush and most caring people agree CHIP is an important program that needs to be funded appropriatly. Bush just didn't agree with trippling the funding in an obvious attempt to morph this valuable safety net for needy children into a budget busting government entitlement for .

If they hadn't been so greedy it would have passed.

If CHIP isn't funded well enough until "MoveOn.org" is happy (who is organizing the protests) there is a slim chance of coming to a compromise that a fiscal conservative like Bush can accept and a liberal organization like MoveOn.org can accept. MoveOn.org would not be happy until we all agree to sign over our entire income for them to manage and distribute as the see appropriate, so I can't line up behind their agenda.

Personally I think our time would be better spent encouraging congress to propose a fiscally responsible compromise instead of encouraging Bush to give in to MoveOn.org.
Denz | 12:41 p.m. Oct. 4, 2007
This program is just full of waste, stop it now and do the right thing. No taxpayer dollars should go to fund healthcare for non US citizens, Period. If people would quit wasting their money on new cars, cell phones, houses that are more than then need, they could pay for the things that they should pay for. I am tired of people with new cars, new homes, and $100 cell phone bills telling me how hard they have it.

Set your priorities in the right order and you too can afford the necessary things of life. Live within your means and you will have no problem sticking to a budget.
Open Your Eyes | 12:53 p.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Bush, Cannon, Bishop and Bennet are complete hypocrites on this issue. All of them supported and pushed through the Medicare Perscription Drug Benefit in 2003 that will cost $1.2 trillion to pay for perscription drugs for Seniors. Just to remind you, as a group, seniors already have their primary insurance covered by medicare and are much more likely to be able to pay for private insurance then young low income families. Despite this Bush and our supposed convservative republicans decided that seniors also need to have their drugs paid for.

SCHIP costs $35 billion, a fraction of the medicare bill and fills a real need but Bush and Cannon oppose it because they feel they can score some political points and try to present a false image as being fiscally conservative after reigning over the largest expansion of federal spending since Lyndon Johnson.
Nick | 12:55 p.m. Oct. 4, 2007
SCHIP in its entirety would cost as much as one month of our involvement in Iraq. SCHIP would provide badly needed medical coverage to millions of children who, through no fault of their own, live in situations where their families cannot afford decent health care.

Critics use the term "Socialized Medicine" like it's supposed to scare us away from this program. Nonsense. Health care in America is currently a disaster. Look at the statistics: Longevity, infant mortality, portion of our incomes going to health care, whatever metric you use, we're lagging farther and farther behind the rest of the industrialized world.

Dubya has no hesitation supporting disastrous wars and tax breaks for wealthy individuals and corporations that amount to orders of magnitude more money than the SCHIP program. Federal deficits under Bush have skyrocketed. It's _way_ too late for him to now be playing the "fiscal conservative" card.
swrl | 1:06 p.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Bush doesnt act alone. Who stands to benefit? Just every rich country clubbin doctors that have already got protection from the sharky negligence lawyers. The Phamacutical Company that has the Doctor on its Board.
Not only do we have to look out for the military industiral complex but Bush's Medical Conspirator's who want to block all outside influance.
Just look at Birdman Leavitt that declared war on the birds of the world inorder to promote an american vacine. It didnt matter that most were clean and fed the worlds poor population.
A little social restraint might be good for the city specialist doctor but not the rural rancher.
Reality | 1:19 p.m. Oct. 4, 2007
How can Bush and Cannon sign and vote for a Medicare expansion bill (in 2003) that costs $1.2 trillion and then support a veto of a $35 billion bill for low income insurance for children. Everyone who has posted supporting Bush and Cannon here need to be aware that they have been wild inconstent in their devotion to fiscal reponsibility and this is just a way to score political points with their core supporters
fred | 1:20 p.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Every state makes their own guidelines for the SCHIP program and in New Jersey they are enrolling 25 year olds as 'children' and people with income over $80,000 a year can qualify. President Bush did the right thing to kill the bill.
Glen | 1:21 p.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Government should not be managing health care, myn, yours or a childs. To suggest as much for any reason is plunder and misappropriation of perceived powers. One may attempt to take the moral high ground and in the name of what they would call "nobility" suggest that chip is a moral obligation - tis a specious argument. Now that it has failed through proper government the sand throwers and toy hoarders and cry babies of the sandbox can't handle it. You lost, society doesn't want it - deal with it.
Coverage for All | 1:32 p.m. Oct. 4, 2007
So many of you bash socialized medicine--have you ever tried it? I lived abroad for 8 years in a country with socialized medicine. It was a great help to us as a young family, especially when one of our children was diagnosed with a serious, chronic illness.

Yes, the system has problems--sometimes waiting lists are long and taxes are high (although, they are based on your level of income), but you won't have to sell the shirt off your back if you become seriously ill or injured.

There are major problems with our system too, no one can deny that. I have known families who have lost everything they own to medical bills. Good, hard working people. That isn't right.

The best solution would be a meshing of the two systems. Private care for those who prefer it, and a public health system--maybe with vouchers? Oh yeah, people here have a problem with that too.

All I know is that our system is a disaster, where doctors become disgustingly rich while many cannot afford basic health care. What a shame. Doctors in socialized systems make a decent living--not a fortune.
A Mom | 1:49 p.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Denz, do you have children, a modest home, mo cell phone bill,and a car that is not new? I do, and I can't afford health insurance for my children. I just applied for CHIP, and I'm so grateful it's there.

I recently lost my job and have a child with diabetes. Without CHIP, we would have an awful hard time affording her medical bills and medications. She would also become uninsurable.

I do believe that the system should be reformed. Why give benefits to those who have broken the law and are not contributing taxes to out system? It simply encourages more to come, burdening the system.

Denz, I don't know your background, but you have no right to insult people you don't even know. Maybe you should get the facts before you start throwing around accusations.

CHIP is a wonderful support to those who need it. It's just unfortunate that there are those who abuse programs that are there to help in times of need. Up with CHIP, down with abusers!
Good Policy | 1:56 p.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Presidents: Ezra Taft Benson, David O. McKay and Heber J. Grant all said it is not moral to tax one person to do a good deed for another person. This program is a failure of good policy. Only the truly poor children should be helped. Children from families below the poverty line, I don�t think $75,000.00 per year is below the poverty line.
So we spend billions | 1:59 p.m. Oct. 4, 2007
on war, but we can't spend millions to help our children? I am totally disgusted.
Yes to the Veto | 2:05 p.m. Oct. 4, 2007
The President of the United States did absolutely the right thing. This bill is only a baby step to socialized medicine. Universal health care dumbs down an entire society. When it is accepted the Federal Govt. gains all the control over states by saying, "If you want Federal assistance for Health Care, you will do the following...". JUST LOOK at the Privace Act enacted by THE WORST PRESIDENT ever, Bill Clinton, that one act alone has cost tax payers millions of dollars just to keep medical (his own records of STD'S) private. It has slowed down healthcare but driven up costs. This hatred of Pres. Bush is an amazing american phenominon. He's actually done the best thing and nobody can see it because they hate him so bad. Way to sucker into the liberal spin.
Other expenses | 2:20 p.m. Oct. 4, 2007
If you...
have sattelite or cable, and a cell phone or...
spend more than $200 per month on alcohol or...
eat out at least a dozen times per month or...
have so many shoes you can only keep track of them with an excell sheet or...
have a motorcycle, 4 wheeler, golf clubs, or a membership to a health club or...
can buy your kids "heelies" you...
CAN afford health insurance for your kids or...
you have no clue how to manage money.
Sick of Libs Spending My $ | 2:37 p.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Hooray for Bush for "just saying no" to bigger gov't. Ronald Reagan would be proud. If the Liberals had their way, they would buy the votes of the people between the 51st and 1st percentile in income by promising them more freebies from the Gov't at the expense of the upper 49% of income producers, who pay close to all the taxes, until our Country is driven into bankruptcy. We need less federal gov't programs, not more.
socialized medicine is great? | 2:43 p.m. Oct. 4, 2007
Please. I lived abroad too. I visted a doctor who made me wait for hours before getting in, then tried to use dirty instruments that had not been cleaned, and in the end, gave me a prescription for drugs that did not address the condition I had.

The doctor showed no compassion, just a quick "let's get you out of here" routine, and I was on my way.

I was once in a situation where I needed CHIP for a short period of time. With children who have special needs, it was a lifesaver. Once we no longer qualified, we moved to private insurance.

The expansion of this program to include people up to the age of 25 and incomes in the 80,000$ is just ridiculous.

There are those who need it; I have no problem providing it. For those who don't, let's stop paying for it. And please, let's not borrow from the Europeans. Bad idea.

Get the facts | 2:43 p.m. Oct. 4, 2007
This bill would NOT insure children in families with incomes of Bush's figure of $83,000. For a state to adopt the program and insure a family making that much, it would need to apply with the federal government, and the President would need to approve it (New York did this and was turned down). This bill would expand a program that is already in place to offer health care to children in families making usually about 2 to 3 times the poverty level, or about half of his $83,000 figure. The cap of income is not being raised, and this is not a baby step to socialized medicine. It's true that some children and families with private insurance are expected to shift to the government program. But the Congressional Budget Office estimates that such a shift is relatively low considering the number of uninsured these bills would reach.
KH | 3:16 p.m. Oct. 4, 2007
To listen to some of the comments here you would think Bush was doing away with CHIP. It's not going away, he's just not trippling it's budget.

Does the budget for CHIP have to tripple? Can it continue to serve it's original charter (temporary safety-net for low income chilren) at some level less than $35Billion (or whatever MoveOver.org demands)?
I think we can improve | 3:32 p.m. Oct. 4, 2007
on "socialized medicine", but we need to do something fast. There are about 50 million people in this country who are not covered by insurance and that is disgraceful for such an "advanced" country as ours. Furthermore, it's not fair. Everybody deserves healthcare (even prisoners get it). But some "regular" people avoid going to the doctor or dentist if they can because they want to avoid the high cost. This is even true for some people that have insurance because the cost can still be high (inadequate insurance). We need a change!

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