Scare Tactics Don’t Sink House SCHIP Bill

by Mike Hall, Aug 2, 2007

Yesterday Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives–the same folks who want to privatize Medicare and Social Security–spent hours shrilly and loudly  condemning legislation that will bring health care coverage to millions of uninsured and low-income children. (Yesterday we told you about Republicans who are vehemently denouncing the Senate’s SCHIP bill.)  

Wild claims that the bill to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) would lead to “socialized medicine” and–heaven forbid!–universal health care filled the House chamber. 

But the SCHIP bill, which adds $50 billion to the program over current costs and brings coverage to another 5 million low-income children in addition to the 6.6 million children now in the program, passed 225-199 on a mostly partyline vote.  

The lawmakers who are so adamantly opposed to health care coverage for poor children–along with President Bush, who says he will veto the House or the Senate bill if either reaches his desk–should listen to a couple of doctors who take care of kids.

The Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch talked to two local pediatricians who put things in perspective. Said Dr. James Bailes at the Marshall University Medical Center:

I see a lot of kids who are still involved in the SCHIP program. It seems to help a lot. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone really taking advantage of it….It’s just good medical care they couldn’t afford otherwise.

This type  of program actually empowers working parents to give children what they need in terms of regular visits. In this way it actually discourages socialized medicine. The SCHIP program is one of the better run and organized programs I’ve seen the government work with. 

Dr. Matthew Harris, who says he wants to see more children eligible for SCHIP coverage, says something got lost in the vitriolic protests yesterday.

So often it’s the children that suffer–not the politicians who can’t get an agreement.    

Democratic House members had a few things of their own to say yesterday.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) offered a good piece of evidence about “socialized medicine”:

The Republicans’ silly claims about socialized medicine are belied by the bill’s endorsement by the American Medical Association.

 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said: 

SCHIP…has dramatically reduced the number of poor, uninsured children in America. The legislation before us today will improve SCHIP and the lives of millions of working families in America by improving coverage for all 6 million children currently enrolled under SCHIP, insured under SCHIP, extending that coverage to 5 million additional children.   

  The Senate is expected to vote on its SCHIP bill tonight.

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