The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) currently provides insurance for six million children. It's a joint federal-state partnership - created in 1997 by President Bill Clinton - that covers children without health insurance.
A few months ago House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and the rest of Congress passed bills that would increase five-year funding and provide coverage to an additional four million children. The expanded SCHIP program would be financed almost entirely by a small increase in taxes on tobacco products.
Despite the overwhelming majority of Americans firmly supporting greater funding, President Bush has threatened a veto of the program's federal funding.
Governors from 28 states - including Democrats and Republicans - recently signed onto a letter written by Govs. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) and Eliot Spitzer (D-NY), criticizing Bush for his stance on SCHIP.
The current SCHIP plan is set to expire on September 30.
On a related note, Dustin, from Family Pride, offers great advice - and insight - regarding the healthcare industry's discrimination against lesbian and gay families.
Post new comment