Senator McCaskill says this is a dark day for children’s health because the President has quickly vetoed the children’s health insurance bill that Congress sent him this week.
McCaskill says there’s a sharp contrast between the S-CHIP bill that President Bush has vetoed…and the Medicare-Part D bill that he signed just before his re-election. She says billionaires can take part in Part D, a program that is costing the government 700 (B) billion dollars in the next ten years. She says Congress did not provide any way to pay those costs. She says the S-CHIP bill is a stark contrast, costing 35 (B) billion dollars in the next five years and insuring children whose parents are poor or of moderate income and cannot afford health insurance. Further, she says, Congress included a way to pay the costs–an increase in the national tobacco tax.
The President complains the Children’s Health Insurance bill is a step toward socialized medicine. McCaskill says a Medicare bill that pays for care for billionaires fits that definition far better. She hopes for an override of the President’s veto of the bill but says she is not optimistic. McCaskill says there are enough override votes in the Senate, but the House is about a dozen votes short.
Senator McCaskill says this is a dark day for children’s health because the President has quickly vetoed the children’s health insurance bill that Congress sent him this week.
McCaskill says there’s a sharp contrast between the S-CHIP bill that President Bush has vetoed…and the Medicare-Part D bill that he signed just before his re-election. She says billionaires can take part in Part D, a program that is costing the government 700 (B) billion dollars in the next ten years. She says Congress did not provide any way to pay those costs. She says the S-CHIP bill is a stark contrast, costing 35 (B) billion dollars in the next five years and insuring children whose parents are poor or of moderate income and cannot afford health insurance. Further, she says, Congress included a way to pay the costs–an increase in the national tobacco tax.
The President complains the Children’s Health Insurance bill is a step toward socialized medicine. McCaskill says a Medicare bill that pays for care for billionaires fits that definition far better. She hopes for an override of the President’s veto of the bill but says she is not optimistic. McCaskill says there are enough override votes in the Senate, but the House is about a dozen votes short.
(Senator McCaskill discussed the issue in a teleconference with reporters today. We have edited together her two discussions ons this issue. In between the segments she talked of other issues)