Sunday, July 15, 2007

Bush Will Veto CHIP Expansion
Democrats in Congress - with some Republican support - have a reasonable idea: let's increase the cigarette tax on the federal level from $0.39 to $1.00 and use the money to expand the children's health insurance program to include some 4 million more children. Today's NYTimes tells us the Bush Administration will veto this proposal, because he opposes tax increases (even on cigarettes!?) and for another more disgusting reason:
“The proposal would dramatically expand the Children’s Health Insurance Program, adding nonpoor children to the program, and more than doubling the level of spending,” [White House spokesman Tony] Fratto said. “This will have the effect of encouraging many to drop private coverage, to go on the government-subsidized program.”
God forbid a parent who sneaks over the President's "poor" line gets some health care security with public support...

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