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APHA Urges President Bush to Reconsider Unfounded Basis for SCHIP Veto |
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From American Public Health Association: "President Bush stated this week that he intends to veto pending legislation that would reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which is set to expire Sept. 30. The bill would extend health coverage to approximately 4 million uninsured children and continue providing coverage to 6 million children. "The American Public Health Association (APHA) strongly urges the president to reconsider and sign the SCHIP bill that is likely to be passed by the House and Senate next week. APHA believes that the reasons the president gives for his intended veto are unfounded. "We urge the president to consider these facts in light of his recent assertions to support a veto: -- The president asserts that since he has made his veto intention clear, Congress should pass a bill extending the program at its current funding levels until a resolution can be reached. -- The president asserts that the House and Senate bills aim to shift focus away from low-income children by increasing eligibility for higher income children. -- The president asserts that funding the increases in the SCHIP budget through an increase in the tobacco tax will hurt working Americans. FACT: Research has shown that increases in the tobacco tax reduce the number of people who smoke. Funding SCHIP through a tobacco tax increase will not only reduce existing tobacco-related health care costs, but will also deter kids from becoming smokers. FACT: We cannot afford not to do this. One-third of this cost is incurred by government, and the other-two thirds is borne by business and those of us who are insured.
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