Bush Unfairly Demonized for Not Supporting SCHIP Increase

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It was President Bush versus the children on ABC “World News” August 26.

“World News” attacked the administration’s position objection to a $35 to 50 billion increase in the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) that was passed by Congress before the August recess. In fact, the program characterized Bush’s position as a dramatic cut.

“ABC’s Kate Snow reports tonight on a fierce debate over whether the White House is now trying to dramatically cut the program. It’s part of our series – ‘The Uncovered,’” said ABC “World News” anchor Dan Harris.

But that’s not the truth. Bush isn’t proposing SCHIP cuts—he actually supports increased funding, just not by $35 or $50 billion. He has proposed expanding the $25 billion program by $5 billion a year, but does not want SCHIP to become a gateway to socialized medicine.

“We’ve got a ready-made program here that’s working,” said Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) a proponent of the $35 billion expansion. “We shouldn’t change something that’s working.”

But if it is ready-made and working, why does it need a $35 billion increase in funding?

The report did not include anyone from the House or Senate who voted against the massive increases, nor did it say by how much Congress wants to “dramatically increase” the program.

The expansion of the program would be financed by an enormous tax increase of 156-percent tax increase on cigarettes and a more than 20,000-percent increase on cigars (up to $10 per cigar).

Video is available through the ABC News Web site.


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"Bush isn’t proposing

"Bush isn’t proposing SCHIP cuts"

So why isn't he saying anything in his defense?

 

Here's Why

George Bush could hold a 30-minute press conference on the subject and the pro-Democrat media would cut out a five-second soundbite followed by two minutes of some pro-increase advocate for the program.

This website (and it's older sibling, Media Research Center) have shown tima and time again how when it is the GOP any message, strong defense etc. is subject to completely biased, suspect reporting/editing. 

 

This is typical Dem lying,

This is typical Dem lying, where any limitation on their gluttonous spending is called a "cut".

 

Lefties lie; it's all they have.

And these newscasters......

......are planning on donating how much of their own money to fund this program?

(crickets chirping)

What the hell; it's going

What the hell; it's going to be paid for by evil smokers, so who cares?

Those who think that way should start to think about what will happen when smokers quit rather than pay the exorbitant tax. Who do they think will pick up the tab then?????

CHILDREN to AGE 25!!

Think everyone should read the SCHIP(or something close to it!!) info and see what it would do!!  Under $80,000 household income, children to age 25, etc..  Do not people have any responsibility for their own lives and destiny!!!

What the MSM is also

What the MSM is also choosing not to report is that much of the money that's already budgeted for SCHIP never gets spent!  The money goes to the state accounts and sits there.  Howard Dean was able to cover the gap in his state (between kids covered by their parent's insurance and those left uncovered by his state's SCHIP fund) by requesting and using unspent money from NY's and PA's accounts.

My guess is that you won't hear the Libs discuss this because of the reason the money isn't spent.  The states are apportioned money based on estimates of how many uninsured kids they have, but working parents insure about 90% of the kids in most states.  Most of the uninsured kids live in big cities, are african-american, are living in single-parent households, etc., and if these kids had decent parents they would be insured.  But the sad truth is the reason the kids aren't insured is the same reason they're living in grandma's house with six or seven siblings of a single mother who can't afford to raise them: a severe lack of good judgement!  But the Libs are never going to admit to that inconvenient truth.

Old News in California

The liberal politicians and liberal journalists have been doing this for years in California.  What they call "cuts" is 100% misleading and is designed to shape public opinion.  I remember once trying to explain this to my realtor and she

thought I was nuts for suggesting that the news media is purposefully trying to mislead the public on a story.