This Week's Attitude
Bush Veto Keeps Neediest Children In The Waiting Room
By Neil S. Friedman

Despite distancing themselves from the Bush White House - and its miserable approval rating - 2008 GOP presidential hopefuls, nevertheless, support the president's recent veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Plan (S-CHIP). If the Republican Party hopes to maintain the presidency after next year's election, this obvious misstep could be another nail in the electoral coffin that results in a change of occupancy at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

The time for change after eight years of an inflexible administration that time and again has demonstrated it cares more for its self-interested strategies and well-to-do friends than the national interest is overdue - long overdue.

In the latest faux pas, President Bush vetoed legislation to expand S-CHIP that could leave five million children without health insurance, if the Democratically-controlled House of Representatives can't override it when a vote comes up on October 18. The bipartisan bill proposes to expand S-CHIP by about $35 billion over the next five years. (That's a drop in the bucket compared to the money the White House spends in Iraq.) The president only wants the program increased by $5 billion.

Opponents of S-CHIP claim that even if Congress overrides the veto (about 15 Republicans must jump the GOP ship), the federal government will not likely be able to renew it when it expires in five years. If this country can sustain nearly $9 billion a month for the war in Iraq after four years, then it should certainly be capable of scraping up the meager $35 billion that is required to sustain health care for needy children. It's just a matter of priorities.

It is estimated that there are 47 million Americans without adequate health coverage and more than ten percent are children. More than one study concluded that about 80 percent of the children who would gain coverage via S-CHIP are from families well below the federal poverty level.

The president's supporters maintain that the S-chip bill is nothing more than a step towards socialized medicine and it would be wrong for the federal government to go down that road. But, the government already subsidizes everything else under the sun, from farmers who are paid not to grow anything to large corporations that benefit greatly from an inequitable tax code that leaves middle and lower income taxpayers, who don't always have the opportunity to get substantial tax breaks like the well-to-do, paying more than their fair share.

Look at the oil industry, which continues to reap huge profits annually as it gets generous government tax breaks. Another example are New York state's citizens who pay a good deal more in federal taxes than the state receives in return, meaning we subsidize those states that get back more in federal funds than its residents are taxed. And, of course, there are the pharmaceutical companies - and doctors - reaping substantial profits from soaring, out-of-control medical costs that are unlikely to diminish as the Baby Boomer generation ages.

And let's especially not forget that our federal representatives have lucrative retirement and health plans that many of those who elect them can only dream of. If S-CHIP affected their families, you can bet each one of them would fight for increased financing.

Look, we're not talking about throwing money at those who have the means. S-CHIP will simply supplement families with children to assure they can provide adequate health care. Like any other government-authorized handout, recipients should meet specific standards and, if suspected, be open to auditing if they hope to remain in the program. S-CHIP should not - though, liked other government giveaways, it's inevitable - be there for scams and abuse.

If necessary, the Democrats must compromise so S-CHIP is not put on the back burner. Then, they could at least campaign next year claiming they made the attempt, but were thwarted by penny-pinching Republicans who'd rather cut taxes for corporate cronies and the wealthy.

Bush's veto has put millions of children's health at risk, not to mention adults and the elderly who lack the means to get proper health care. Let's face it, this president doesn't have a problem spending tax dollars. He just has a problem on who should reap the benefits.

Congress must override Bush's veto for the sake of the children. One wonders why this president, who insists on leaving no child behind in education, overlooks the fact that children in poor health will be left behind in life.

(See related articles on page 6.)