Eureka Times-Standard

Karen Wilkinson The Times-Standard
Eureka Times Standard

Article Launched:10/19/2007 04:24:14 AM PDT

A bill to expand and continue health care coverage for millions of children nationwide fell short Thursday of the votes needed to override President Bush's veto.

The House voted 273 to 156, 13 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to override the veto. The bill was originally approved by a 265 to 159 vote on Sept. 25. Bush vetoed the bill on Oct. 3.

”Although the outcome is not entirely surprising, it is deeply disappointing,” Assemblywoman Patty Berg said in a statement. “It is a sad day for California's children and children across this nation.”

Local Republicans said that it was the Democrats who caused the bill to fail.

Joy Finley of Eureka Republican Women Federated said that the bill would push out the private sector, saying, “It's another incremental, backdoor approach to socialized medicine.”

The bill would also expand coverage to illegal immigrants and people up to 25 years old, Finley said. “What the Democrats are doing, just made it impossible to sign,” she said.

Nearly 2,800 kids in Humboldt County and 6.6 million children across the country would benefit from continued coverage, and the bill would extend coverage to 4 million children who qualify but aren't currently enrolled.

The bill, which would have increased tobacco taxes from the current 39 cent levy to $1 a pack, would have expanded the State Children's Health Insurance Program by $35 billion over five years and provided health care for as many as 10 million children.

The program, commonly referred to as SCHIP, was created as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. It was designed as a federal and state partnership, similar to Medicaid, with the goal of expanding health insurance to children whose families earn too much money to be eligible for Medicaid, but not enough to purchase private insurance.

Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, said some members of Congress chose to walk “lock-step” with the president rather than represent their constituents, and are keeping millions of children from getting the health care they need.

”...This bill is supported by 43 governors and hundreds of health-related organizations, including health insurance companies,” Thompson said in a statement. “And it's completely paid for. Those members of Congress who voted against this bill and call themselves compassionate conservatives should take a long, hard look in the mirror.”

Some Republicans think otherwise.

”I feel this is an attempt to expand coverage beyond children in need, with the ultimate goal of expanding government,” said Patricia Welch, local Republican party chairwoman. “Basically what they're trying to do is push out the private sector.”

Seniors would be negatively impacted, Welch said, as Medicare Advantage funding could be lost, forcing seniors to use Medicare.

”They're trying to pass a bill for children, but it's at the expense of seniors,” she said.

Thompson disagreed.

”Claims that this bill provides coverage to adults and illegal immigrants or raises the income eligibility are equally false,” he said. “This bill does not change the eligibility for SCHIP at all. It simply increases the resources available for SCHIP so kids who aren't currently enrolled, but qualify, can get the coverage they need.”

Joan Dixon, a grandmother who helped organize a candle light vigil in Bayside Tuesday night to show support for overriding Bush's veto, said Congress' priorities seem to be funding the Iraq war.

”Our government is spending billions unsustainably in Iraq and blocking health care for our children who are our future,” Dixon said in a press release. “We appreciate Mike Thompson for voting to reauthorize this bill.”

Thompson said he'll continue fighting.

”We're going to continue to fight for this bill until we prevail,” he said. “Reauthorizing SCHIP in order to expand care for our children is a fight we can not afford to lose.”

Karen Wilkinson can be reached at 441-0514 or kwilkinson@times-standard.com