REP. CALVERT VOTES AGAINST MISGUIDED SCHIP BILL
March 30, 2009
Press Release
Today Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) voted against H.R. 2, a massive expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The bill passed the House 289 to 139.
"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.
H.R. 2 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 increase access to taxpayer funded 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.
The Democrat expansion of SCHIP is also irresponsibly funded by increasing the federal tax on cigarettes which would require an additional 22 million new smokers to fund. The most likely target to attract new smokers would be adolescents and young adults.
"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."
Congress already reauthorized and fully funded SCHIP through March 31, 2009 – the vote today is a political ploy used by Democrats to mask an unsuccessful legislative agenda that places illegal immigrants above low-income children.
Rep. Calvert is a co-sponsor of H.R. 464, the More Children, More Choices Act, which would re-authorize SCHIP for five years and ensures mechanisms are in place to prevent illegal immigrants and children from families who can afford private health insurance from crowding out the poorest children that SCHIP was designed to protect. Additionally, H.R 464 would create a refundable, advance tax credit of $1,400 for each child in a family earning between 200% and 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. This tax credit will enable more hardworking American families to purchase private insurance coverage for their children.
Congressman Calvert will also cosponsor legislation that will be introduced soon, titled the Healthy Kids One Stop Act. The bill would give states the option to combine or streamline the SCHIP enrollment process with another government agency that already provides a form of assistance to low-income children. The Healthy Kids One Stop Act will help SCHIP reach its intended purpose of covering uninsured low-income children by creating more avenues for efficiently enrolling them.
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"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.
H.R. 2 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 increase access to taxpayer funded 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.
The Democrat expansion of SCHIP is also irresponsibly funded by increasing the federal tax on cigarettes which would require an additional 22 million new smokers to fund. The most likely target to attract new smokers would be adolescents and young adults.
"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."
Congress already reauthorized and fully funded SCHIP through March 31, 2009 – the vote today is a political ploy used by Democrats to mask an unsuccessful legislative agenda that places illegal immigrants above low-income children.
Rep. Calvert is a co-sponsor of H.R. 464, the More Children, More Choices Act, which would re-authorize SCHIP for five years and ensures mechanisms are in place to prevent illegal immigrants and children from families who can afford private health insurance from crowding out the poorest children that SCHIP was designed to protect. Additionally, H.R 464 would create a refundable, advance tax credit of $1,400 for each child in a family earning between 200% and 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. This tax credit will enable more hardworking American families to purchase private insurance coverage for their children.
Congressman Calvert will also cosponsor legislation that will be introduced soon, titled the Healthy Kids One Stop Act. The bill would give states the option to combine or streamline the SCHIP enrollment process with another government agency that already provides a form of assistance to low-income children. The Healthy Kids One Stop Act will help SCHIP reach its intended purpose of covering uninsured low-income children by creating more avenues for efficiently enrolling them.
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