Corzine Blasts Bush’s ‘Misinformation’ On SCHIP
Corzine Blasts Bush’s ‘Misinformation’ On SCHIP
Last week, President Bush vetoed an expansion of SCHIP, denying coverage to 3.2 million children who are currently uninsured. To justify his veto, Bush held up states who want to cover children above 300 percent of the poverty level as examples of the program’s misdirection. Yesterday in his weekly radio address, Bush claimed that he is “guided by a clear principle: Put poor children first.”
Today, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D) appeared on ABC’s This Week and shot down Bush’s excuses. While New Jersey’s SCHIP program does cover children in families with incomes up to $72,000, “the cost of living in New Jersey is far higher than it is in other parts of the country”:
CORZINE: Now, the fact is that there’s only about 3 percent of our kids in that 300 percent of poverty to 350 percent.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Middle class to upper middle class.
CORZINE: Upper middle class. That’s hardly upper middle class in New Jersey. Median income’s about $65,000. The reality is that the vast majority, the vast majority of the children that are in the CHIPS program — we call it Family Care in New Jersey — are under 250 percent of poverty.
Watch it:
Corzine also responded to Bush’s criticism that states such as New Jersey spend “more SCHIP money on adults than they do on children.” “We cover parents up to 133 percent of poverty,” he said. “That’s $27,000 for a family of four. In New Jersey, that is poverty. … Yes, the cost of insurance for adults is more than for young folks, for kids, but that is not going to middle class or even moderate income families. Very low income.”
New Jersey is one of eight states that has sued the Bush administration for making it harder for them to cover more families under SCHIP. Additionally, the bill Bush vetoed actually put the poorest children “first in line” for benefits. It seems that in order to fund the Iraq war, poor and middle-income children come last for this administration.
Transcript:
STEPHANOPOULOS: And Secretary Leavitt, let me begin with you. You heard the president there, and press secretary Dana Perino said that this expansion is a move towards socialized-type medicine. If this is a move towards socialized-type medicine, why stop at a veto? Why not get rid of the whole program?
LEAVITT: The president’s position on this can be summarized in three words: poor children first. Poor children ought to have health insurance before we begin to focus on adults. They ought to have it before we start focusing on middle-income families.
The president just thinks it’s wrong that some under this bill could receive public subsidy for their health insurance. As high as $83,000 in their family. We would be encouraging people who currently have insurance to cancel it so that the government can pay for it.
Now, the president has put forward a plan to have every American have health insurance and wants to get on to that debate. Every presidential candidate has a plan. The president’s put forward proposals. We just can’t seem to get the Congress to focus on it.
We’d like to get the SCHIP reauthorized and move on to the larger debate of how we can get every American to have access to affordable policy.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Secretary Leavitt mentioned a couple numbers there, $83,000. In New Jersey…
CORZINE: There’s not a single program in the country that has been authorized at $83,000.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, New Jersey would go up to $72,000, wouldn’t it?
CORZINE: It already is. It has been in place for nine years. It was requested through the department that Secretary Leavitt leads, under a Republican governor in 1999, Christine Todd Whitman. And it was reapproved for nine years in a row.
And the reason it was approved up to those limits is the fact that the cost of living in New Jersey is far higher than it is in other parts of the country. And it seemed reasonable, I think, to both Republican and Democratic administrations to give what they call a waiver. And that occurred.
Now, the fact is that there’s only about 3 percent of our kids in that 300 percent of poverty to 350 percent.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Middle class to upper middle class.
CORZINE: Upper middle class. That’s hardly upper middle class in New Jersey. Median income’s about $65,000. The reality is that the vast majority, the vast majority of the children that are in the CHIPS program — we call it Family Care in New Jersey — are under 250 percent of poverty.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But here’s what The Wall Street Journal said about your program in New Jersey. It was an editorial called Garden Stateism. And you’re actually suing the federal government over their plan.
Their response is, How fitting that Mr. Corzine should be the one to resort to lawbreaking, given that his state exemplifies everything that’s gone haywire with SCHIP. States like New Jersey have been taking advantage of SCHIP’s flexibility in covering more affluent children, their parents and even childless adults.
And President Bush this week said that New Jersey actually pays more under SCHIP to adults than children.
CORZINE: Well, this is the problem with this whole debate. There’s so much misinformation. We cover parents up to 133 percent of poverty.
That’s $27,000 for a family of four.
In New Jersey, that is poverty. As a matter of fact, people earn the earned income tax credit there. We’re giving money back, because they don’t have enough resources to be able to get by in the world today.
Yes, the cost of insurance for adults is more than for young folks, for kids, but that is not going to middle class or even moderate income families. Very low income. It’s an extension of Medicaid, and the percentage of young folks, kids, that are insured is 10,000 — is about 3 percent. It’s 10,700 of the total of 125,000.
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I wrote to my Bush-water-carrying Congressman about switching his vote on SCHIP to override Bush’s veto. I told him not to just listen to me, a constituent, but also to his Republican colleagues in the Senate and also to an editorial in the Chicago Tribune which implored him and 6 other holdouts in the state to support SCHIP. But I wonder if he’ll listen. He certainly doesn’t have to worry about losing his job, as the dems have never bothered to support a decent opposition to his candidacy. Still, I gotta try.
October 7th, 2007 at 1:15 pmBe it long remembered and shouted from the roof tops that our pResident wants 10 billion per month for his lied into existence war but can’t afford a few billion for health care for kids. Despicable. Sick.
October 7th, 2007 at 1:29 pmtorture and destruction, that is what the gop stands for, that is what gwbushit is all about. Illegal action from an illegal resident. GWbushit is still AWOL.
It’s all smoke & mirrors to discuss the details of this proposed legislation & who it would cover. The Bush admin would like to abandon the program as it stands, let alone increasing it. They’d like to dismantle all social programs and are moving in that direction by bankrupting the country. Bush doesn’t care about children, other then forcing mothers to bear them. He doesn’t care about poor people. The Reps as a group believe that every person should stand on their own, without govt assistance of any kind. They say this while completely ignoring all of the social programs that they currently enjoy… police, firemen, roads, infrastructure of all kinds. What they’d really like is to put the govt in a position where it can’t afford any social programs of this type. And he’s spending his way to get you there.
October 7th, 2007 at 1:34 pmOn Friday Ed Gillespie was busted on air for lying on NPR about SCHIP.
It was very awkward
October 7th, 2007 at 1:42 pmBush, set a good example and give up your insurance.
October 7th, 2007 at 1:47 pmBush misread “Promote the general welfare” as “Promote the general warfare.”
October 7th, 2007 at 1:49 pmAs if being the Worst President Ever weren’t distinction enough, George W. is now the President who shat on the children.
See how he outmaneuvered the Democrats? The man’s a political genius.
October 7th, 2007 at 1:50 pmWho cares what the Wall Street Journal prints. It’s just another Murdock propaganda rag.
October 7th, 2007 at 2:08 pm#9 Amazing, isn’t it? That is the trick the Republicans have to pull off to stay in power: convince gullible dupes to vote against their self-interests.
October 7th, 2007 at 2:26 pmSee how he outmaneuvered the Democrats? The man’s a political genius.
What in God’s name are you talking about? Bush is getting pounded on health care for kids, and GOP members of Congress are – at long last, for the first time – splitting with the White House on an issue of substance.
October 7th, 2007 at 2:27 pmA friend of mine is a poor Catholic woman who votes Republican. I’ve tried shouting at the top of my lungs that the Republican party doesn’t care about poor people, but she’s a “conservative” and toes the party line. The phrase “cognitive dissonance” comes to mind. These days, neither party cares about poor people. They care about people who can line their pockets, even if it’s from on-the-lam felons like Norman Hsu. Everyone’s money spends the same, after all. Cash – the great uniter.
October 7th, 2007 at 2:48 pmWhat in God’s name are you talking about?
Comment by koko the talking gorilla — October 7, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
It would make sense if it was intended as sarcasm. Bush’s final legacy may well be that he was ultimately responsible for politically destroying the Republican party.
October 7th, 2007 at 2:49 pmbut she’s a “conservative†and toes the party line. The phrase “cognitive dissonance†comes to mind.
Comment by Race Condition — October 7, 2007 @ 2:48 pm
Anyone in the middle and lower classes who still support the GOP are simply unreachable (at least some well-to-do and rich supporters are, in contrast, driven by greed, cynicism, and amorality).
October 7th, 2007 at 2:52 pmBush’s final legacy may well be that he was ultimately responsible for politically destroying the Republican party.
All of the Republicans I meet (I’m in California) are outspoken about how much they despise that man in the White House, for ruining their party, spoiling what it stands for, and destroying any chance of a GOP majority for the forseeable future. Honestly, the language they use in denouncing Bush is as blistering as anything you’d read here at TP.
October 7th, 2007 at 3:05 pmBlock out everything this bunch of liars say, as they try to confuse the situation. Focus only on their actions. Bush vetoes a bill for children. Bush is pushing for more money for his oil war. Stop listening to the words, and all becomes crystal clear: This is a greedy, soulless, anti-Christian cabal.
October 7th, 2007 at 3:37 pmYou can see why Rove bailed ship. He is smart enough to see that Bush is steering the good ship RepublicanTitanic into the ice. Rove knows that Bush and his Gang have tied themselves to the wheel and are prepared to do down with everyone on board.
Rove wants to have a future in Politics and wants his latter-term resume clear of the coming Bush disaster.
The problem is that Bush is going to take a lot of people down with him when he sinks the ship; poor children, our economy, our troops.
I wish the Democrats had the guts to just take control and try to keep our country from falling apart. I guess the Democrates in Congress are not willing to “look bad” by strongly resisting Bush (no matter how dumb this reason).
Sigh……
October 7th, 2007 at 4:36 pmHypocrite = Bible toting rethuglicans who claim to be Christians but whose actions are evil, warmongering, greedy, and dishonest. Dubya does not act like a Christian. Dubya acts like a hypocritical sob.
October 7th, 2007 at 4:39 pmProblem is, this helps poor children.
Instead, Bush pushes for permanent repeal of the Dynasty Tax (aka Estate Tax; “Death Tax) so that rich kids can inherit limitless wealth and live princely lifestyles as they create perpetual dynasties to rule the United States, and, by extension, the World.
Things haven’t gotten bad enough for enough people to rebel. The people in power hope that by the time the masses wake up, they will be too suppressed/oppressed to be able to effect change by any means, peaceful or otherwise.
October 7th, 2007 at 4:41 pmCould someone explain to me why, when talking about health insurance for children, 65,000 is upper middle class elite. Yet, when talking about tax cuts for the middle class, they’re talking about people making over $200,000 per year ?
October 7th, 2007 at 4:54 pmComment by jason baddo — October 7, 2007 @ 5:04 pm
Y’all,
This guy is a troll. Ignore or suffer the consequences!!! You’ve been warned!!
October 7th, 2007 at 5:06 pmIgnore or suffer the consequences!!! You’ve been warned!!
Comment by dixie blood — October 7, 2007 @ 5:06 pm
October 7th, 2007 at 5:27 pmGeez… what happens??
Perry Logan, when one has the power of the veto and executive signing statements at hand it really isnt political genius. Its like taking a hammer to an ant hill just because you can. What this does is upset the checks and balances in the constitution, something Republicans used to actually stand up for.
~~~~~~~~
All these scum sucking Southern redneck inbred uneducated born again A**holes are there own worst enemies….
I am from the South, what you are seeing is the move of Republicans from the north, the Rust Belt, into the south, Bush is not a Texan, they got their start in Ohio with Buckeye castings and came south for the oil.
October 7th, 2007 at 6:11 pmComment by dixie blood — October 7, 2007
I dont think Jason Baddo is a troll, what happened when Bush gave tax cuts to the upper percentile created a tax shift, tax receipts have gone up which shows that in effect there was no tax-cut.
October 7th, 2007 at 6:16 pm[Mises institute/Tax shift
http://www.mises.org/fullstory.asp?control=109
There is a clause in the compramise bill that allows states to vote to give the intire plan over to private insurance companies. It is a quiet “privaitzation” plan. I feel the new compramise will be set up so that all states will privatize the program and increase federal money to it.
read the best blogg that no-one reads at:
http://willyloman.wordpress.com/
October 7th, 2007 at 6:36 pmThings haven’t gotten bad enough for enough people to rebel. The people in power hope that by the time the masses wake up, they will be too suppressed/oppressed to be able to effect change by any means, peaceful or otherwise.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — October 7, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
BnF,
The “masses” are awake. They have been and continue to be awake since the 2006 midterm elections.
The “masses” are made up of many factions. The uber-rich-reich, the screwed middle-class and the double screwed poor.
The uber-rich-reich are the “masses” that screw the rest of the “masses” in this country!!
The problem is that lots and lots and lots of morons and idiots and suckers and other stupid phucks in the south and mid-west VOTE and VOTE and VOTE against their own BEST INTERST because they are REPUGNISCUMS!!!
IT’S NOT THE MASSES IT’S THE STUPID PHUCKS THAT CAN’T STOP SUCKING REPUPUNISCUM TEATS!!!
October 7th, 2007 at 6:37 pmLet’s hope the repugnicants are swept clean out in 08, if not by dems, then by indies and greens.
October 7th, 2007 at 6:43 pmI dont think Jason Baddo is a troll, what happened when Bush gave tax cuts to the upper percentile created a tax shift, tax receipts have gone up which shows that in effect there was no tax-cut.
[Mises institute/Tax shift
http://www.mises.org/fullstory.asp?control=109
Comment by Xisithrus — October 7, 2007 @ 6:16 pm
You’re comment makes no sense. It’s a disjointed diatribe. Are you asking a question or just proving your idiocy?? See how I use the “?” for a question? You should try to follow this protocol once in a while!!!!!!
October 7th, 2007 at 6:44 pmWhen Bush says, “compassion” he means “come fascism.”
October 7th, 2007 at 11:07 pmbring it back TP… pretend i put an * in the word f*ck…
October 8th, 2007 at 12:17 ambut post my comment, please.
The disinformation has worked so well that here in Central Texas near Ft. Hood people think that the money is going to families that can afford insurance but don’t want to pay for it. It doesn’t seem to sink in that $300 – $400 a month for minimal coverage is an impossibility for many many families. Those from military families who have access to military coverage really don’t fare very well either since that system is so over-burdened (this is not VA coverage) still think that only those on Medicaid (coded as cheats) should have coverage and everyone else should buy it as they do or shut up.
October 8th, 2007 at 5:51 amtaxing the poor (smokers) to pay for the poor is communism. I want socialism damn it. Get the money from CHEVRON. If the parents of low income houses could afford health care they’d buy it themselves.
It’s the RICH not the Smokers!
October 8th, 2007 at 1:06 pmI agree with the objective of providing health care for needy children but I think this is best undertaken by NGOs, Red Cross, churches, civic groups, volunteers, etc. What most people don’t realize is that some people who want these programs are motivated by something else. Some of them are from the unions who see increased goverment programs as a way to increase the number of gov’t workers and the union dues they pay. Some politicians see the programs as a way to get more of people’s hard-earned money in order to excercise more control of people’s behavior. Some people see programs as way to get the govt. to force other people to pay for things that they need or want without having to work for them. If you really want these programs, there’s nothing stopping you from organizing a civic / charitable group and start asking for people’s support. You don’t need the goverment! And don’t think that these are acts of charity either. A charitable act requires voluntary giving. There’s nothing voluntary when the gov’t forces people to pay and threatens them with tax evasion / jail time if they don’t.
October 8th, 2007 at 1:43 pmThe Democrats need to go back to talking income taxes, not sales taxes. The tax on cigarettes is a SALES TAX! THAT’S WHAT REPUBLICANS DO!
With Democrats like these, who needs Republicans?
October 9th, 2007 at 1:39 am