Bachmann and Kline: Against Minnesota Families
09/26/2007
Bachmann and Kline:Second, Sixth District Republicans Continue War on Middle-Class, Vote Against SCHIP
St. Paul, MN (September 26, 2007) U.S. Reps. Michele Bachmann and John Kline voted yesterday against renewing and improving the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Reauthorization of the program passed the House of Representatives by an overwhelming vote of 265–159. Every other member of the Minnesota Congressional delegation voted in favor of the measure. [Vote # 906, 9/25/07].
“Once again, Representatives Bachmann and Kline have chosen to toe the Republican party line instead of taking care of the urgent, daily needs of working families, even when it comes to such basics as making sure that children have access to affordable health care,” said Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez.
“Whether Bachmann and Kline are true believers in their war against the middle class, or are just blindly following President Bush, the result is the same: bad news for Minnesota’s families,” Melendez concluded.
Bipartisan Plan Would Enroll More Eligible Children, Has Bipartisan Support — Except from Bush:
Bachmann, Kline Vote against Health Care for America’s Children. Bachmann and Kline voted against renewing and improving the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The improvement of the program would extend health coverage to over four million additional people, in addition to the 6.6 million who are already enrolled in the program. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that between five and six million children are currently eligible for SCHIP but cannot enroll due to lack of funding. [Vote # 906, 9/25/07; Washington Post, 7/23/07; Center for American Progress website, 9/25/07].
Bachmann, Kline Voted against SCHIP Earlier This Year. Bachmann and Kline also voted against SCHIP reauthorization when it passed the House of Representatives in August. [Vote #787, 8/1/07]
Minnesota’s Pawlenty Leads Governors to Call on Congress to Extend and Increase SCHIP. “The nation’s governors, defying threats of a veto from President Bush, called on Congress Sunday to extend and increase a program to provide health insurance for poor children…Pawlenty, who is beginning a year-long term Monday as chairman of the association, said it represented a ‘bipartisan consensus’ that action is needed before Congress goes on recess in August.” [Washington Post, 7/23/07]
Most Americans Support Covering All Kids. “A New York Times poll of 1,281 adults in late February found 84 percent of those surveyed in support of expanding the current program to cover all children. A similar majority said they thought the lack of health insurance for many children was a very serious problem for our country.” [New York Times, 7/23/07]
President Bush Proposed Budget That Won’t Cover All Children. The president’s budget allocates only $5 billion in additional money for the program in the next five years. The Congressional Budget Office notes that many children eligible for the program have not been enrolled and that covering them would require an expansion of at least $14 billion over five years. [Washington Post, 7/23/07; New York Times, 7/23/07]
While Claiming Nation Cannot Afford to Ensure More Children, Bush Proposes Additional $200 Billion for Iraq. “…President Bush plans to ask lawmakers next week to approve another massive spending measure — totaling nearly $200 billion — to fund the war through next year, Pentagon officials said. If Bush's spending request is approved, 2008 will be the most expensive year of the Iraq war.” [Los Angeles Times, 9/22/07]
President Bush Supported Improvement of SCHIP during 2004 Campaign. When running for reelection in 2004, President Bush expressed support for enrolling millions of children who are eligible but not enrolled in SCHIP. “America’s children must also have a healthy start in life…In a new term; we will lead an aggressive effort to enroll millions of poor children who are eligible but not signed up for government health insurance programs. We will not allow a lack of attention, or information, to stand between these children and the health care they need.” [President's Remarks at the 2004 Republican National Convention, 8/04]
Bush Flip-Flopped on SCHIP Improvement. On July 10, President Bush told a crowd in Cleveland, “But now there are plans to expand SCHIP to include families, some proposals are families making up to $80,000 a year. In other words, the program is going beyond the initial intent of helping poor children. It’s now aimed at encouraging more people to get on government health care…That’s what it is. It’s a way to encourage people to transfer from the private sector to government health care plans.” [President Bush Visits Cleveland, Ohio, 7/10/07]