by Crystal Swann
September 24, 2007

While House and Senate leaders are nearing agreement on the $35 billion bipartisan bill to reauthorize the popular state children’s health insurance program (SCHIP), President George W. Bush continues to affirm his intent to veto any children’s health insurance program bill that exceeds his preferred spending cap of $5 billion over 5 years.

At a September 20 White House press conference the President stated, “I believe the best approach is to put more power in the hands of individuals by empowering people and their doctors to make health care decisions that are right for them. Instead of expanding SCHIP beyond its original purpose, we should return it to its original focus, and that is helping poor children, those who are most in need.”

However, a Congressional Budget Office analysis of the SCHIP bill passed by the Senate last month — which the emerging agreement will closely resemble — found that at least 85 percent of the otherwise-uninsured children who would gain coverage under the bill have incomes below states’ current SCHIP eligibility limits — suggesting a programmatic correction rather than an expansion.

Members from both sides of the political aisle expressed concerns regarding the President’s veto threat.

“I’m frustrated for the kids of Iowa… I’m disappointed,” stated Senator Charles Grassley, a key member of the bipartisan group currently negotiating the compromise bill.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus had this response: “The move the President is suggesting will kick kids out of doctor’s offices all across the country. The President may be willing to cut off health care for low-income kids, but here in the Congress, we will not.”

“President Bush should support the bipartisan SCHIP legislation for 10 million reasons – the 10 million children who will receive health care coverage should this bill become law,” stated U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The SCHIP program, which currently provides health insurance to six million children in working families, is facing a September 30th reauthorization deadline.

Reauthorization of the CHIP is one of the priorities outlined in the “Mayor’s 10-Point Plan Strong Cities, Strong Families for a Strong America” agenda. The House is expected to vote on the bipartisan compromise CHIP reauthorization bill next week.