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Contact: Rebecca Rudman
202-225-1986
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REP. CALVERT SUSTAINS PRESIDENTIAL VETO OF SCHIP
Bill Provides Benefits to Illegals, Brings U.S. Closer to Nationalized Healthcare
Washington,
Thursday, October 18, 2007 -
Today Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) voted to sustain the President’s veto of H.R. 976, a massive expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The vote to override the veto, which requires a two-thirds majority, failed by 273 to 156.
"I find it unconscionable that Speaker Pelosi has hijacked a successful program, created by Republicans ten years ago with my support, in an effort to provide benefits to illegal immigrants and bring the U.S. one step closer to a nationalized system of healthcare," said Rep. Calvert.
Rep. Calvert is a co-sponsor of H.R. 3584 which would re-authorize SCHIP for 18 months and provide and additional $2.6 billion to ensure the continued coverage of low-income children.
H.R. 976 expands the program to a point that undermines the original purpose of SCHIP - to provide medical insurance for low-income children. The bill would provide benefits to middle-class families, childless adults, and would give health benefits to illegal immigrants. The bill also provides SCHIP to higher income brackets which would shift it away from covering low-income children who are already eligible but not enrolled. H.R. 976 eliminates a requirement ensuring that States are covering 95% of those children below 250% of the federal poverty level. This change would move the U.S. toward a single-payer, universal healthcare model for the U.S.
The Democrat expansion of SCHIP is also irresponsibly funded by increasing the federal tax on cigarettes - a declining source of revenue.
"I cannot reiterate enough my support for the existing SCHIP program and for decreasing the number of uninsured children in this country," stated Rep. Calvert. "However, I have strong concerns that the Majority Party is on a path to destroy this program and it will be our nation’s neediest children who pay the price."
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