Message from Chairman Jones: Last week in downtown OKC there was a small rally in support of a bill that would expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The rally was held in front of Rep. Mary Fallin’s office. Nathaniel Batchelder, speaking for the groups behind the rally, said, “we need Rep. Fallin to override Bush’s veto and stand up for our kids.” It seems like everyone’s motto these days is “it’s about the kids.” If this SCHIP program were really about our kids’ future, however, we wouldn’t expand government spending and put our children further in debt. As Congresswoman Fallin put it: “ I don’t know of anyone that doesn’t agree with the basic premise that poor children should have access to quality medical care… the conflict is over how great an expansion of SCHIP the federal government can responsibly sustain.” The real facts back up Fallin’s stance: The proposed SCHIP expansion would allow and strongly encourage States to provide government health coverage for children in families making 300% of the Federal poverty level, or almost $62,000 for a family of four. Furthermore, Congress' bill would enable SCHIP to cover children in some households with incomes of up to 400% of the Federal poverty level (about $83,000 per year). Of the 5.8 million enrollees Congress' legislation would attract by 2012, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that 2.0 million would drop private insurance to enroll, moving us closer to a nanny-state government that Democrats envision. Democrats would like to point the finger at Republicans and make the outlandish claim that we are against children if we don't support this bill. Unfortunately for Democrats, the facts just aren’t on their side. Related: Community Action Project: SCHIP Issue Brief The Collegian: SCHIP veto a democratic disaster

Labels: Gary Jones, OKGOP

Posted at 10/08/2007 05:40:00 PM