Despite Calling Himself A ‘Strong’ Supporter Of SCHIP As TX Gov, Bush Sought To Limit The Program
Despite Calling Himself A ‘Strong’ Supporter Of SCHIP As TX Gov, Bush Sought To Limit The Program
Before President Bush vetoed a bipartisan expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), he held a press conference on Sept. 20 to try to bully Congress into caving to his demands, calling them “irresponsible.” During the presser, he also declared “I have strongly supported S-CHIP as a governor, and I have done so as President.”
Bush’s claim to being a “strong” supporter of SCHIP as governor of Texas is laughable, according to former Texas Observer reporter Lou Dubose. Writing in the Washington Spectator yesterday, Dubose details how Bush tried to limit the program, setting the qualifying threshold at 150% of the poverty level, which would have insured only 300,000 of Texas’ 1.4 million uninsured kids:
Other Republican governors, such as Florida governor Jeb Bush, set the qualifying threshold at 200 percent of the national poverty level. Some went higher. In New Jersey, Governor Christine Todd Whitman, whom Bush would appoint as his first director of the Environmental Protection Agency, set the threshold at 300 percent, opening the program up to greater numbers of children. [...]
The Democratic legislature prepared to budget for enrollment at 200 percent, which would have opened the program up to 500,000 of the state’s 1.4 million uninsured kids. Bush drew the line at 150 percent, which would have insured 300,000 kids.
Eventually, Bush yielded to political pressure and agreed “to the Democrats’ plan, with its enrollment of 500,000 children in the program.” After the bill was signed, Bush told one Democratic legislator, “Congratulations, you shoved it down our throat.”
As Dubose noted in a 1999 Nation article, at the same time Bush was fighting efforts to cover more children, he was also pushing “a tax break for oil-well owners.”
(HT: Dan Froomkin)
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51 Responses to “Despite Calling Himself A ‘Strong’ Supporter Of SCHIP As TX Gov, Bush Sought To Limit The Program”
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I really can't say what I'd love to shove down that throat...
October 16th, 2007 at 4:24 pmI have many ideas of what I can shove down his throat...
October 16th, 2007 at 4:25 pmFor Bush, children--be they SCHIP recipients, "snowflake" babies, or frozen embryos--lose their usefulness when the photo op ends.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:30 pmWe should not have the SCHIP program. Instead, we should have the universal, single-payer, government-run, socialized healthcare that the other top forty countries in the world have. It would save us $250 billion every year, administratively alone.
Then we have everyone covered and we don't have these stupid arguments. And we save 18,000 lives every year.
The US doesn't have a few children without healthcare. We have about eleven million children without healthcare. No other developed country has a single one without. We should be ashamed of ourselves.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:35 pmIs that George with a child who has received assistance via SCHIP?
Quick...someone call Malkin. We need a stakeout, and stat! I hear she's got some free time on her hands after dumping O'Reilly. Got to find out about this kid's parents and where they work and how many cars they own.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:39 pmThe moment the camera went off, the foot kicks the crutch out from under the kid's arm.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:40 pm#5 Keith, I agree 100%.
As for Bush, of course he lies about it. There are many examples of Bush lying about favoring a popular program that he in fact fought against. That Bush lies a great deal is plain to see. It is so obvious that I cannot understand why his supporters forgive him for this, except that many of them have dubious morals and ethics of their own.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:42 pmChristie Whitman allowed 300% of over poverty level?
Now that's news!
Malkin, Bigmouth, O'Really, did you hear that? 300%!!
In other news today, Larry Craig's flipper flopped again...he's staying...no, wait, he's not.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:49 pmFolks most of us are too poor for all Repukes & some Dems to care about.So everything coming out of Bush's mouth about caring for the American people is a lie.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:50 pmWhat he cares about is the top 1% money earners.
How did it get to the point where only very rich folks can become Prez ?
Bush has told more lies to the American public than he's taken vacation days at Crawford.
This man lies to himself on a daily basis.
'It ain't fun being sociopathic, but it sure gives me something to do'.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:52 pmNo other developed country has a single one without. We should be ashamed of ourselves.
Comment by Keith
That statistic alone should make "normal" citizens cringe at their government. The US is sliding down the hole in so many ways (education, pollution, warmongering, corruption, etc) we will need very good leadership if we are to remain a global force. I don't mean a global police force, I mean a beacon of hope and properity for all to see. Mr Bush has so divided our nation, he will surely rot in hell.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:52 pmCongressman GHW Bush voted against Medicare in about 1965, calling it "socialized medicine". He's right. It is! It's also far more efficient and what the people want.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:53 pmWow, if I didn't know better, I'd say the Presnit was using a child -- and a handicapped one at that! -- for a photo op! I thought that was "out of bounds"?
Can any righties help me out on this? I'm so confused.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:58 pmIf you aren't in poverty, you shouldn't be stealing from me.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:59 pmAnd another little factoid for everyone: the United States is now 41st in the world for women dying in childbirth.
FORTY FIRST.
George Bush and all his "compassionate conservatives" should rot in hell.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:59 pmCan any righties help me out on this? I’m so confused.
Comment by ralph the wonder llama
IOKIYAR! That about says it all.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:59 pmStratRat,
Most people don't know that every other developed country in the world does not have one single person without healthcare.
I even had an email argument with Paul Krugman last year because he said "most developed countries have universal coverage". I asked him to name one without and if he was including Burkina-Faso as developed.
And don't stay out too late. Remember what your wife said. ;)
October 16th, 2007 at 5:00 pmThe Criminal-in-Chief LIED about something in his past? SURPRIZE! SURPRIZE!
October 16th, 2007 at 5:02 pmFew weeks ago, it was said we are now 40th in world in life expectancy. Our healthcare is about 35th in the world.
October 16th, 2007 at 5:03 pmStrong Supporter???
Maybe an Athletic Supporter...
October 16th, 2007 at 5:04 pmAnd don’t stay out too late. Remember what your wife said. ;)
Comment by Keith
I remember! She does seem happier when I am away.
The numbers you cite should be a wake up call for all of us. I find the right sides callous behavior to the Frost's child is abhorrent. Most of us are one or two emergencies away from being in their very shoes.
October 16th, 2007 at 5:06 pmI called the offices of all eight representatives who voted against the expansion of the SCHIP program (and the one who voted "present"), asking them vote to override the veto. My fellow progressives should do the same!
October 16th, 2007 at 5:08 pmThis disgusting, arrogant POS has gone too far. I say IMPEACH him NOW!
October 16th, 2007 at 5:09 pmBush loses one "fight" - involving children whom he's happy enough to trot out when they're "snowflakes" - and suddenly it's all "you shoved it down our throats".
What about this fncking war, Mr President? The American people are deep-throating it as we speak.
October 16th, 2007 at 5:17 pmHow many bold-faced lies is this now? I hope someone's counting.
October 16th, 2007 at 5:37 pmGosh I miss Miss Molly Ivins... she would have a thing or two to say about this mess.
October 16th, 2007 at 5:47 pmHe also calls himself a strong supporter of Democracy, but look what he's done to our government--in a democracy, majority rules.
He doesn't give a fck about anything that doesn't benefit himself.
October 16th, 2007 at 5:58 pmGeorge Bush wouldn't know the truth if it came up and gave him a big sloppy kiss. He lies naturally and the scary thing is that he believes his lies. That's the MO of a Sociopath.
October 16th, 2007 at 6:21 pmGosh I miss Miss Molly Ivins… she would have a thing or two to say about this mess.
Comment by LibertyLover
Or four, or five or six. I miss her too. She always had a way of putting things into perspective. Another one I love, but don't hear enough of, is Jim Hightower. One of my favorite books is "There's nothing in the middle of the road but yellow stripes and dead armadillos". It's a great read.
October 16th, 2007 at 6:24 pmDespite talking out of one side of his mouth and then the other, Bush is still shown to be an incompetent ass. Oh wait, arrogant f@ck is more appropriate here. We will get incompetent ass coverage on the next story about our President.
October 16th, 2007 at 6:41 pmI reccomend supporting the President.
With nylon or good hemp, just long enough to keep his heels barely off the ground until his calves cramp.
October 16th, 2007 at 7:13 pmI say trash all programs! Cancel these tax breaks to all companies. Cancel all farm subsidies. Get rid of food stamps, SSI, gov't grants to individuals, drug companies, everything. Let's start fresh!
October 16th, 2007 at 7:15 pmI say trash all programs! Cancel these tax breaks to all companies. Cancel all farm subsidies. Get rid of food stamps, SSI, gov’t grants to individuals, drug companies, everything. Let’s start fresh!
Comment by RightOfAttila — October 16, 2007 @ 7:15 pm
Of course you do. The GOP is full of selfish, petty, heartless dorks.
October 16th, 2007 at 7:21 pmWe should totally cancel all government. We should pay the down the deficit with Rethuglicans' off-shore bank accounts instead.
October 16th, 2007 at 7:31 pmDuring the presser, [Dubya] also declared “I have strongly supported S-CHIP as a governor, and I have done so as President.â€
That was one of many falsehoods (a/k/a "lies") that Dubya came out witt during the 2000 debates. Dubya claimed to have been a champion of CHIP, but he vetoed the first bill, and let the second passage become law without his sgnature after the Texas lege went and passed it with a veto-proof majority.
While the so-called "liberal media" was frothing at the mouth over Gore's sighs while Dubya was trying to peddle this kind of crapola, they said nothing about Dubya's many lies and mistakes during the debates. Thanks, media: Thanks to you and your cupidity or laziness, we're 4000 soldiers and a half a $trikkion short, with the nation swirling down the crapper....
Cheers,
October 16th, 2007 at 8:20 pmWait, is that a "human shield" I see to the right of Pres Bush?
I wonder if the boy's parents "made bad choices" and the crutches were not purchased via the all sacrosanct "free markets".
Otherwise Pres Bush would be -what's the word?- a bloody hypocrite.
Where is Michelle "unhinged" Malkin when you need her to set the record straight about a boy's family financial situation?
/sarcasm off
October 16th, 2007 at 9:22 pmOh Bigmouth,
If it is all a question of people taking responsibility for their own actions, then why do all people in countries to the left of the US politically, fare better than Americans?
One study said even though the British eating, exercise, and drinking and smoking habits were worse than Americans in all classes---the British lived longer in all classes due to their universal, single-payer, government-run healthcare.
Why does the job growth rate ALWAYS improve going from a Republican president to Democratic president. Why does the job growth rate ALWAYS worsen going from a Democratic president to a Republican president, if it is all just a matter of whether or not people take personal responsibility?
Why did Clinton average 237,000 new jobs per month and W average 72,000 new jobs per month (at lower wages and less than the 140,000 needed to keep up with population growth) if it is all a question of personal responsibility? Why would Americans all of a sudden become more responsible under a Democratic president?
Why does Massachusetts have far better education than Texas? Because they have better responsibility?
Answer: they don't. It is the policies that matter.
October 17th, 2007 at 12:37 amOh and Bigmouth,
According to you, the entire rest of the developed world---you know all those nations that are overtaking us----are "far left kooks who cannot accept the idea of responsibility for one’s own actions".
If we don't have a democrat come in and rescue us from $250 billion annual deficits AGAIN, then the IMF will move in, declare us a failed state, and take over our economy.
October 17th, 2007 at 12:42 amSpeaking of taking responsibility for one's own actions, it would be nice to see Pres Bush take responsibility for making false statements when he said he "strongly supported SCHIP as a governor" when he didn't.
October 17th, 2007 at 12:47 amOr when he blamed that darn "faulty intelligence" after Iraq's WMD were not found.
Or whenever he tries to blame those "meddling" Iranians for the unending disaster that the Iraq occupation has become.
I'd pay to see him take responsibility for those, although I know he won't. He is too busy looking for scapegoats for his (many) other disastrous decisions.
October 17th, 2007 at 12:50 amGregor,
Bush doesn't always blame the Iranians for the fiasco in Iraq. Sometimes he blames the press, sometimes the Iraqis, and sometimes the Democrats.
October 17th, 2007 at 12:53 amFor his diastrous economy, Bush blames Clinton and 9/11. Plenty of personal responsibility there!! His homework? Barney ate it!
October 17th, 2007 at 12:56 amComment by Keith — October 17, 2007 @ 12:53 am
You are right, I almost forgot Syria too... or anyone who dares voice a different opinion, you know, them darn "terrist appeasers".
Katrina? Oh, nobody say that one coming. I mean, it was only a category 5 hurricane.
The (non) reconstruction of New Orleans? Well, that's the fault of its citizens. I mean, c'mon, they have two hands and now how to use a shovel, don't they?
Yeah, lots of sense of responsibility there...
/sarcasm off
October 17th, 2007 at 1:21 amAnd how about firing anyone who was involved in Plame's identity leak?
Did anyone get fired?
That was a display of responsibility and accountability, eh, footie?
October 17th, 2007 at 1:51 am>who cannot accept the idea of responsibility for one’s own actions.
or responsibility for one's parents actions. thank god we all agree pregnant women who dont believe they can afford insurance for thier unborn children should get abortions, right?
October 17th, 2007 at 2:24 am>And how about firing anyone who was involved in Plame’s identity leak?
Bigfoot has inside information proving nothing improper went on in that affair, just like he has information about everything that went on in Abu Gharib...
October 17th, 2007 at 2:25 amhershey messiah,
The outing of Plame only destroyed the network working for the non-proliferation of WMD in Iraq and Iran---no big deal. It was only for retaliation for telling the truth about the President's State of the Union Speech listing necessity of war being full of known lies 11 months before they were said. No big deal. Certainly not as important as the Clintons' Christmas card list or who slept in the Lincoln bedroom.
October 17th, 2007 at 2:39 am>The outing of Plame only destroyed the network working
>for the non-proliferation of WMD in Iraq and Iran—no big deal.
Right.. hunting for REAL WMD? no big deal.. besides, to we REALLY want there to be no WMD? these guys would have think up something original to keep our attention if they didnt have the constant fear factor up thier sleeve...lets be honest... our countries costs are someone else's profits, and i just wish i just wish we'd find more honest trolls who were willing to come out and admit "i like war, i think wars a good thing, war makes money and some people need to die anyway"
honest trolls? nah...
October 17th, 2007 at 2:50 amI seem to recall when the Texas Legislature over rode the Bush veto of the Texas CHIP bill, Gov. Bush refused to signing the bill into law. Although his signature was not necessary for the bill becoming law, it was tradition for the Gov. to sign such bills. Bush refused to attend the signing ceremony.
October 17th, 2007 at 12:38 pmOnce again, Mr. Bush proves to be a petulant, out of touch with reality prevaricator.
What does Republinomics mean for you, dear hardworking American?
-It means you suffer.
-It means you watch your children sicken and die while wingnut boneheads who have'nt the first clue of where their economic interests lie prattle on about "personal responsibility" and "self determination" and attack you because you did not choose to move your family into a cardboard box, or forgo having a family altogether.
-It means that while you suffer, corporate elites, CEO's, and the idle rich will continue to enjoy tax breaks, Federal Reserve bailouts, and every other perk you would expect if you were living in the softest of socialist welfare states. But don't worry, their mouthpieces will will preach self-sufficiency at you 24/7 through the corporate media they've robbed you of.
-It means that while you walk the tightrope in a blizzard, trying to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, they are inside, eating the best food on a soft couch in front of a nice warm fire.
And they would like to coach you on the finer points of plunging into the abyss with your family and how necessary it is that it should be this way, while they gorge themselves in front of that fire.
And if attacking sick children and their hardworking families is what it takes to stay fat and warm, and not have to give up a single peeled grape, then so be it. Deal with that, while you work multiple jobs to stay afloat.
October 17th, 2007 at 1:04 pmWhile SCHIP is a very necessary program, the funding plan for it was a Republican dream...no income tax involved, just tax "sin". It was a regressive, nastily moralistic, egregiously undemocratic funding plan, just what the Republicans love.
Hope when the bill is re-worked, the Democrats have the sense to ditch the tobacco tax in favor of an income tax to fund SCHIP. As it stands, it will tax people of lower income than those it purports to help. What could be more Republican than that?
October 18th, 2007 at 6:47 pm