The Democrats want to expand the successful State Childrens Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). Bush counters with his pat answer to everything - tax breaks.
The Democratic lawmakers have focused their efforts this year on expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The program was established in 1997 to help families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid but not high enough for private insurance.Democrats have proposed adding $50 billion in new spending to SCHIP over five years. The president made it clear that he opposes such an expansion. His budget recommended adding $4.9 billion. He and his advisers called the coming fight over how much to expand the program a decisive moment in health care - a moment that could lead to more government-sponsored coverage or more coverage through the private sector.
My name was once pulled out of a hat to attend a dinner party with the very rich President and founder of a company I worked for. During the course of the evening, the subject of Reagan's tax cuts came up. The head honcho's mildly disdainful comment was "you have to make it first".
That's the bottom line. Tax breaks are great for people who can already afford health insurance. But those who can't are going to be tempted to use any tax benefits they get on more pressing day-to-day expenses and keep their fingers crossed that they and their kids don't get sick.
S-CHIP works. Expanding this program is a winner for the Democrats and most importantly a winner for children.