Bush’s $83,000 Lie About SCHIP
Today, the House is expected to vote on an extension of the State Children Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which would provide health coverage to 10 million children. Despite broad bipartisan support and the urging of governors, President Bush has threatened to veto the bill by repeating false claims about the legislation.
One of most egregious canards being propogated by the White House about the SCHIP expansion is that it will provide health insurance for the wealthy. President Bush claimed at a press conference last week that Congress “made a decision to expand the eligibility up to $80,000. He repeated it in his Saturday radio address:
BUSH: Their proposal would result in taking a program meant to help poor children and turning it into one that covers children in some households with incomes of up to $83,000 a year. [9/22/07]
And the White House echoed the false talking point today in its official veto message to Congress:
[T]he current bill goes too far toward federalizing health care and turns a program meant to help low-income children into one that covers children in some households with incomes of up to $83,000 a year. If H.R. 976 were presented to the President in its current form, he would veto the bill.
However, no such proposal exists. The $83,000 figure comes from a request from New York to cover children in some slightly higher-income households because of the state’s high cost of living, but the final Congressional agreement put the poorest children “first in line” for benefits.
Center for American Progress health care analyst Jeanne Lambrew notes that the section 106 of the bill specifically ensures that there will not be any expansion of eligibility. “It overwhelming targets resources to low-income children and it discourages expansion to families with more moderate incomes by lowering the share the federal government will pay for such coverage.”
Angered by the White House’s false spin, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) fired back:
“The president’s understanding of our bill is wrong,” Grassley said, his voice rising with anger. “I urge him to reconsider his veto message based on a bill we might pass, not something someone on his staff told him wrongly is in my bill.”
Bush isn’t concerned about doling out tax cuts to the wealthy, but the mere false pretense of the well-off receiving health care is enough to make him veto benefits for 10 million children.
UPDATE: The Democratic Caucus offers a state-by-state breakdown of the impact of the SCHIP legislation.
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Those damned details.
Universal health care is coming, just get used to it.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:17 pmIt appears the potential does exist for children in higher income households to recieve benefits. But I don’t care, we need universal health care.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:18 pmIs there anything lower than a child killer?
September 25th, 2007 at 4:19 pmBush is trying to avoid Neoconmen’s wrath with raising a tax for this.
Mini-Bush, here in MN, already raised the cigarette tax by 75 cents / pack.
A lot of good it did us.
He will continue to distort the truth until he gets his way. I’m ready for him to claim all under and un-insured children are Iranian supporters. I’m sure he could get Lieberman to back that with a quick nonsensical bill.
I forget, was he for children before he was against them?
September 25th, 2007 at 4:23 pmBelieve it or not there are some adults out there who do not want to spend money to provide medical care for a child they are legally responsible for.
This would get care to the kids of sick-f*ck parents.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:23 pmAny smart person would veto the idea of socialism
September 25th, 2007 at 4:23 pmA realy smart person skip’s over all off R-R post’s…….
September 25th, 2007 at 4:27 pmComment by Roger_Roger — September 25, 2007 @ 4:23 pm
——————
You’re right. Medicare must be revoked. Our seniors can fend for themselves. They’re just greedy old bastards, anyway. Socialism in all forms is wrong.
Or did I misunderstand you???
September 25th, 2007 at 4:29 pmQ: What’s R-R?
A: The sound of a dead battery.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:29 pmRoger Rhetoric, are you related to Roger Rabbit?
If you are, look out for Joe ‘Elmer Fudd’ Lieberman.
He’ll shoot you, you cwazy Wabbit!
September 25th, 2007 at 4:32 pmDam Liar
September 25th, 2007 at 4:32 pmUniversal health care.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:33 pmKeep saying it until it happens.
41 days in Iraq would pay for this program for a year.
Bush’s war isn’t even in the budget! He plans to pay for it on credit long after he is out of office.
Compassionate conservative is an oxymoron.
Bush is simply a moron.
OK, is Bush blatantly lying? Or is he truly an idiot who believes what he says is the truth?
If it’s the former, this goes beyond mere exaggeration or spin. It’s saying the bill says something when it says the opposite.
If it’s the latter, he really needs to read up on things before sounding off.
Either way, he continues to prove his incompetence.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:34 pmany smart person would demand Bush resign.
Bush I demand that you resign!!
September 25th, 2007 at 4:34 pmOn the right-winger blogs, they new meme is that this program will allow illegal immegrants to get medical benefits. This is causing the righties to gnash their teeth and wail about how horrible this bill is.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:34 pmAny smart person would veto the idea of socialism
Comment by Roger_Roger — September 25, 2007 @ 4:23 pm
Next you will want to get rid veteran benefits, such as that veteran socialized medicine at the VA.
So, you want to cut off Childrens medical insurance……
September 25th, 2007 at 4:34 pmYou are a cold uncaring sub-human pile of crap.
The number of poor children in need of health care surely contain some of those who were saved from abortion by the pro-lifers.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:35 pmBush cares only about the political advantage of pandering to the religious right and their opposition to abortion, but when the kids are born into poverty and illness, they can just suffer.
Bush makes me sick!
Why are we paying for everybody’s roads? Why do we pay to have police, firemen and public works employees. Get rid of all these collective ideas.
/sarcasm
September 25th, 2007 at 4:36 pmone of his less expensive lies, I’d have to say. - not that that excuses it.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:37 pmWait a minute, hellinabucket , if Bush resigns, Cheney becomes president. Then we will all be dead.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:37 pmFear of Cheney is not a valid reason for keeping Bush in office.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:41 pmUniversal health care.
Keep saying it until it happens.
If you truly want Universal health care, you better get behind Kucinich as your candidate. He is the only Democrat running for President who supports Universal Health Care. The rest of them have come with lame systems that will allow the private health care industry in this country to continue it’s obscene profits off of our health.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:41 pmComment by hellinabucket — September 25, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
—————————
Why stop there? All public parks should be destroyed. Socialized recreation is bad for the country - just ask Roger-Rabbit.
And then there’s the issue of sewage treatment. I’d rather pay Haliburton $500 a month to treat my city’s waste water.
All gov’t programs are bad, right Roger-Dodger?
September 25th, 2007 at 4:41 pmIn Washington last month, the White House renewed George W. Bush’s war against children’s health care that dates back to his days as Governor of Texas. Just two weeks after the House and Senate each approved major expansions of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), the Bush administration announced draconian new eligibility rules that would trim thousands of low income children from the rolls. But unlike his Texas two-step when he claimed credit for a program he fought tooth and nail, this time George W. Bush isn’t running for anything.
For the details, see:
September 25th, 2007 at 4:42 pm“Bush Repeats His Texas War on Children’s Health Insurance.”
OK, is Bush blatantly lying? Or is he truly an idiot who believes what he says is the truth?
I think that Bush can no longer recognize the line between truth and lies. He has lived his lies for so long, they have become truth to him. Part of the definition of a Sociopath is someone who lies constantly and believe the lies they tell. Bush is a perfect Sociopath. It’s time to impeach him.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:43 pmComment by bilbobaggins — September 25, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
September 25th, 2007 at 4:43 pm—————–
Mr. Baggins is right. I support Edwards, but his healthcare plan keeps the same for-profit insurance companies intact, as far as I can tell.
Wait a minute, hellinabucket , if Bush resigns, Cheney becomes president. Then we will all be dead.
Comment by WaltTheMan
Nope, the minute he takes office, we can impeach him.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:44 pmCaption: ‘If these kids are sick, why don’t they just go to the Dr.?
September 25th, 2007 at 4:45 pmYeah, and why should we pay munipal firefighters? That’s socialized fire-fighting! Let the people who can afford to protect their houses stop subsidizing those who can’t!
Right, R2?
Comment by spit take — September 25, 2007 @ 4:44 pm
#
Not to mention police, the US Postal Service, electricity, public road development and city planning, prisons, public education …. etc.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:46 pmBilbobaggins - I would pay hard-earned money to someone who could guarantee the impeachment of Bush/Cheney.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:47 pmBoth are sociopaths. Unfortunately, I think the Dems are too weak to suffer the arrows shot at them from the republiscum and bush lovers in the press. Why don’t they hear us screaming at them that we will stand behind them if they take action.
Comment by bilbobaggins — September 25, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
—————–
Mr. Baggins is right. I support Edwards, but his healthcare plan keeps the same for-profit insurance companies intact, as far as I can tell.
Comment by Vet
I know and that really surprised me. So much for Edward’s populist views. I doubt that he is getting many contributions from the Health Care industry so his stance really puzzles me.
My advice to everyone here. Check out Kuchinich’s Single Payer plan. He simply extends Medicare for all. The Actuaries he hired say that the plan would cost the country 1/3 what they are paying now for private health care plans, they would get better benefits, and the government would pay Doctors what the treatment is worth, not some artificially low amount that Bush has imposed for the last six years.
Bush has been trying to kill Medicare ever since he took office. He cuts the reimbursements to doctors and hospitals every year and they are now so low few doctors will take on Medicare patients. Bush is hoping he will kill Medicare so that he can privatize it. Hopefully our new Democratic President won’t fall for that.
Really, check out Kuchinich. You will really like what you see. My fervent hope is that Al Gore recognizes the fact that his country really needs him and he will run for President with Kucinich as his Vice President. What a dynamic duo that would be!
September 25th, 2007 at 4:49 pmWait a minute, hellinabucket , if Bush resigns, Cheney becomes president. Then we will all be dead.
Comment by WaltTheMan
Nope, the minute he takes office, we can impeach him.
Comment by bilbobaggins — September 25, 2007 @ 4:44 pm
Planning on taking out Nancy “Table Phobic” Pelosi first?
September 25th, 2007 at 4:50 pmShe is a hitch in that plan……
prisons, public education
Comment by Chris L
The Republicans have already made inroads in prisons and education. I do believe that all new prisons being built are privately run including one that was built by our favorite contractor Halliburton.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:51 pmahhh, the smarter person would also ask Cheney to resign.
Cheney, I ask for your resignation.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:52 pmThat would be a hitch in your plan Wayne.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:52 pmNope, the minute he takes office, we can impeach him.
Comment by bilbobaggins — September 25, 2007 @ 4:44 pm
Planning on taking out Nancy “Table Phobic†Pelosi first?
She is a hitch in that plan……
I’m confused. Why would you want to take out Nancy Pelosi first. Wouldn’t you rather have her as President than Bush or Chaney. She’s certainly not my first pick, but she is a far sight better than either Bush or Chaney.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:53 pmBush really just wants the government to insure as few people as possible, because every person insured by the government is another person NOT insured by his benefactors, the private health insurers.
He and his ilk are also under the impression that if poor people, children, and the elderly are ignored, they will just magically go away.
Guess what? They don’t. Children with minor health issues left untreated can grow up to be adults with major health issues that cause them to be too disabled to be productive. Emergency rooms get filled with people who can’t afford to pay for it. Homelessness goes up when people can’t work. I guess the viewpoint of the far right is to just let ‘em all die in the street.
When we don’t take care of the members of our society who need a helping hand, we create bigger problems down the road. A strong economy and a strong society results when everybody is healthy and everybody is productive. Pity our leaders can’t see that.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:53 pmahhh, the smarter person would also ask Cheney to resign.
Cheney, I ask for your resignation.
Comment by hellinabucket — September 25, 2007 @ 4:52 pm
LOL
Just ask Pelosi to resign, then we can get a Speaker that will impeach both of them.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:54 pmBush just makes sh*t up, and has been doing it his entire life. He is a liar.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:54 pmroger roger, waiting for that classic response.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:54 pmCaption Contest
September 25th, 2007 at 4:55 pmAnd what’s up with all these prisons? Why do we have to pay to put people away? And those judges that put them there. What’s up with that?
(read best with a Jerry Seinfeld voice)
September 25th, 2007 at 4:56 pmDon’t Worry,
Social Security and Medair have already ruined America Economically. Our politicians are just good at hiding it currently. Don’t believe me?
Check it out:
http://usatoday.printthis.clickability.com/ pt/ cpt?action=cpt&title=USATODAY.com&expire=&urlID=22498576&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fprintedition%2Fnews%2F20070529%2F1a_lede29.art.htm&partnerID=1660
September 25th, 2007 at 4:56 pmI’m confused.
Comment by bilbobaggins — September 25, 2007 @ 4:53 pm
Nancy won’t impeach. She is blocking all impeachment resolutions from moving forward.
The Cheney impeachment already has 14 co-sponsors and it is stopped dead.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:57 pmNo more socialized roadways!! When I drive, I want to do so on my own , private road!! - R-R
the very word “social” is like kryptonite to righties
figures, since living alone under a bridge is what trolls are all about…
September 25th, 2007 at 4:58 pmKicking and screaming will some of us be dragged into the 21st Century. It’s an extreme disgrace that the USA has to be the only industrialized country in the world (and among even some 3rd world countries like Brazil which have at least some amount) of healthcare for all!
The only people who like it this way are the rich and the Big Pharma/Big Insurance companies.
(Personally, I’d think it a start to mandate that all Big Pharma/Big Insurance be required to be 501(c)(3). Then, we’d see a MASSIVE drop in premiums and drug prices and drastic increases in benefits!)
September 25th, 2007 at 5:02 pmSocial Security and Medair have already ruined America Economically. — roger_dodger
Social Security would have been ok, if the Gov had not been spending it on other things instead of saving it.
Social Security and the budget was fixed in the Clinton Administration. Bush has f*cked up everything he has touched.
September 25th, 2007 at 5:02 pm[T]he current bill goes too far toward federalizing health care
September 25th, 2007 at 5:04 pmCaption Contest
Comment by Xisithrus — September 25, 2007 @ 4:55 pm
I knew I’d seen that look before!
LOL
OK, my turn:
“I just had my prostate checked for free!”
September 25th, 2007 at 5:06 pm#48 Did you not read the report? Even in the Clinton Era, we were adding trillions in debt because of Social Security. Maybe you need to reread it.
September 25th, 2007 at 5:08 pmHow can this country afford to continue to permit our president to lie in the faces of the american public?
September 25th, 2007 at 5:09 pmPass the Chips bill. Let Bush veto it. Let the congress vote to overide the veto and support childrens health, or vote with Bush against childrens health. And make sure the voters next November KNOW how the congressmen, congresswomen, and Senators voted.
September 25th, 2007 at 5:10 pmOur health care system is broken,,,just ask General Motors and the strikers.
Anyone know what time the House will vote on this tonight?
September 25th, 2007 at 5:10 pmCaption Contest: “And this is a testament to the accelerated aging process brought on by continuous lying, stealing, and defrauding the public”. This guy looks like he’s aged twenty years in 6! Wow!
September 25th, 2007 at 5:10 pmWhether Bush vetoes it or Congress supports it by default, it’s certain to be blamed on Bush’s GOP.
September 25th, 2007 at 5:11 pmRoger_Roger: Shame on you thinking Bill Clinton is still president. Or was that hoping perchance?? Then you’d be in synch with about 3/4 of this country right now. Everyone wishes Clinton was still president but continuing to bring it up and wishing it were so, won’t make it so.
September 25th, 2007 at 5:13 pm“I just had my prostate checked for free!â€
Comment by Nevar — September 25, 2007
Jeff Gannon did not work for free =P
September 25th, 2007 at 5:13 pmAnd speaking of accounting RrOoGgEeRr why is this ‘freedom operation’ off the books?
September 25th, 2007 at 5:14 pm#48 Did you not read the report? Even in the Clinton Era, we were adding trillions in debt because of Social Security. Maybe you need to reread it.
Comment by Roger_Roger — September 25, 2007 @ 5:08 pm
I have read much more than that link you have provided.
The program was running a surplus of almost $200 billion a year during the Clinton years and was projected by CBO to be fully solvent until 2046 with no changes. That was before Bushco took office.
September 25th, 2007 at 5:16 pmRoger,
I read your link, it is un-sourced. The writer doesn’t link to anything at all or even explain where the figures he is touting comes from. Don’t you find it odd, that he goes of on hysterics about how medicaid has bankrupted the US. Cauchon doesn’t even bother to show where his figures come from. And the only person who has anything to say about is a republican water carrier. It doesn’t even mention what year. Is it this year 2007? or is it 1997?
September 25th, 2007 at 5:16 pmR2 is perhaps trapped in 1984
September 25th, 2007 at 5:19 pmMore skipping over the R-R……
September 25th, 2007 at 5:21 pm“Jeff Gannon did not work for free =P”
Comment by Xisithrus — September 25, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
George had no idea… Karl always left the money in a little baggie in the toilet tank.
September 25th, 2007 at 5:21 pmUnder the presidency of George W. Bush, approximately 3 TRILLION Dollars has been added to the national Debt of 9 Trillion. That’s a third of the total Debt since George Washington.
September 25th, 2007 at 5:35 pmAnd the Republicans were pushing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution a few years ago. Hypocrits!
Poor R2,
So paranoid about anything “socialized”, yet he is supporting the biggest spenders to ever hold office in the history of this country (or the civilized world). And has also given up many of his freedoms, also thanks to the BushCo Flying Circus and Corporate Whorehouse.
But either he doesn’t understand basic economics (Spending more than you take in causes debt) or hs is blinded by his He-Row, the Codpiece Commander.
September 25th, 2007 at 5:38 pm75% of our entire national debt has been accrued under just 3 repub presidents - Reagan, Bush and Bush.
September 25th, 2007 at 5:54 pmFrom the Treasury Department:
09/30/2006 $8,506,973,899,215.23
09/30/2005 $7,932,709,661,723.50
09/30/2004 $7,379,052,696,330.32
09/30/2003 $6,783,231,062,743.62
09/30/2002 $6,228,235,965,597.16
09/30/2001 $5,807,463,412,200.06
09/30/2000 $5,674,178,209,886.86
Total Debt Outstanding: $9,016,288,006,279.21
September 25th, 2007 at 5:56 pmBilbo, at least John Edwards’ plan sets up competing regional mini-versions of Medicare which will compete with private, insurance-based plans. In this way, Dems can say that there IS competition and, eventually, most of the insurance-based plans will phase out because they just won’t be able to compete. This is, of course, not as good as simply extending Medicare to everyone as Kucinich proposes and Harry Truman wanted to do, but without public financing of federal elections, at this time it’s probably the best we can get that’s realistic.
September 25th, 2007 at 5:57 pmRight now, Bush is furiously working to deny children healthcare and working tirelessly behind the scenes to scuttle various states’ attempts to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
That’s why no sane Repub politician wants to be standing on a stage with him if there are cameras in the room.
September 25th, 2007 at 6:01 pmThe tragicomic thing is that Bush still seems to think he is an asset to Republicans. The guy is easily the most delusional public figure I have ever seen. He’s in Michael Jackson territory.
September 25th, 2007 at 6:02 pmhmmm, Roger_Dodger seems to have fled………
September 25th, 2007 at 6:20 pmHis legacy sould read, “The Lying President”.
He never grew up.
Maybe the “Child Predident”. Oh, his “Pet Goat!”
George still clings to the teddy bear (his party).
A man with a pistol!
Pathetic.
September 25th, 2007 at 6:25 pmThere was a very good profile of this issue on NPR this morning. It repudiated many of the claims made by Bush concerning the Insurance Industry’s stance toward increasing coverage for children in lower income households as well as the hoped-for ability of families to move their children into policies currently held by their parents through their employers. For obvious reasons the industry trade groups would like to see a government subsidy or guarantee, but the striking thing in this is the obtuseness-on purpose-policy stance of the White House, which has no plan, has no policy other than politics, and is now ignoring the very industries it hopes to get its support from.
Embedded in much of the small print of this issue is the fact that a functioning government, with oversight capabilities and responsible attention to fraud, waste, and corruption that might occur, is in its present form simply unable or unwilling to do the heavy lifting required of it. This is not so much about money as about the fact that in governing, those who govern have to pay attention. To George Bush it is akin to swatting at flies. He can’t be bothered with the leadership this moral and family value effort would require in order to make it work. He’d have to appoint some good people, be engaged, be an effective CEO. Hence his whining. Health insurance for children is so much harder than waging a war — the Pentagon is a ready-made thing with experienced people. Crafting a civilian child health care policy is just too much work for this feckless asshole.
September 25th, 2007 at 8:17 pm.
Bush = LIAR!
.
September 26th, 2007 at 5:16 amAs much as I may agree with the idea of providing an earnings cap, I have to ask:
Can anyone explain to me why $83K is called “rich” when discussing insurance but the “middle-class” that reaped the big tax cuts made more than $150 K ??????????????
September 26th, 2007 at 9:58 am