Thread: Senate passes children’s healthcare bill

I am e-mailing them and telling them don't count on my money to fund this, I just threw my cigarettes away...Thank you for encouraging me to quit, if you are going to desert and do more damage to the Republican party, please get out of it!

Senate passes children’s healthcare bill


By Jeffrey Young and J. Taylor Rushing
Posted: 01/29/09 09:38 PM [ET]
The Senate passed legislation Thursday that would provide federal health benefits to millions of children, setting the stage for President Obama to notch an early victory on a major priority.

The chamber voted 66-32 to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Republicans who crossed the aisle to support the Democratic-written bill were Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Susan Collins (Maine), Bob Corker (Tenn.), Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas), Richard Lugar (Ind.), Mel Martinez (Fla.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Olympia Snowe (Maine) and Arlen Specter (Pa.).

The latest Senate SCHIP bill failed to attract the same level of Republican support as those earlier measures. Twice in 2007, 18 Republican senators voted for passage; 17 voted yes in a third vote.

While the bill’s passage does not satisfy Obama’s campaign pledge to ensure all children have health coverage, Senate Democrats say the bill would extend benefits to 4.1 million more uninsured kids from low-income families.

The House passed similar legislation two weeks ago. Though the chambers will have to reconcile some differences between their respective versions of the measure, congressional Democratic leaders are eager to get the bill on to Obama’s desk.

SCHIP already covers 6.7 million children and the $31.5 billion bill would bring the total to nearly 11 million, according to Democrats. The new spending on children’s healthcare would be financed by higher taxes on tobacco products.

In 2007, the Democratically controlled Congress twice cleared SCHIP expansion bills only to see them vetoed by President Bush. Attempts to override Bush’s veto failed.

After Obama won the White House and Democrats strengthened their majority in the Senate, Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) opted to exclude concessions made in 2007 to bring Republicans aboard, provoking strong objections from GOP colleagues such as Finance Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (Iowa) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (Utah).

Grassley and Hatch were among those who complained bitterly that Democrats abandoned previous compromises.

Republicans, including those who supported the 2007 bills, have objected to provisions making it too easy for pregnant women and children who are recent legal immigrants to sign up for SCHIP, protested that the expansion went too far by providing benefits to children from families with incomes higher than 300 percent of the federal poverty level, and complained that SCHIP would enroll children who already have private insurance.

The statutory authorization for SCHIP, which is jointly funded with the states, expires on March 31. If legislation were night not signed by that date, the program would halt operations. In 2007, Congress enacted a short-term extension after failing to come to agreement on a five-year bill.
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/sen ... 01-29.html

Republicans who voted for the bill !



Specter (202) 224-4254

Collins 202.224.2523

Martinez (202) 224-3041

Lugar (202) 224-4814

Alexander (202) 224-4944

Corker (202) 224-3344

Hutchison (202) 224-5922

Murkowski (202) 224-6665

Snowe (202) 224-5344

How kind of them to yet again make it easier for illegals to benefit from our tax dollars!!

[quote="SOSADFORUS"]Republicans who votes for the bill !

Collins 202.224.2523


Snowe (202) 224-5344

These two idiot Are from my state!!
I've been calling them all week.... obviously a waste of my time.

Republicans, including those who supported the 2007 bills, have objected to provisions making it too easy for pregnant women and children who are recent legal immigrants to sign up for SCHIP, protested that the expansion went too far by providing benefits to children from families with incomes higher than 300 percent of the federal poverty level, and complained that SCHIP would enroll children who already have private insurance.

FIX THE 14TH AMENDMENT ON ANCHOR BABIES BEFORE THE CIGARETTE FUNDS ARE GONE.

Are the above pregnant women American Citizens or are the Dads American Citizens of the children?

Why can't they tax the crap out of something else for a change? If they're so concerned about the children then hit sugery cereals and cookies and candy or something.

Originally Posted by crazybird

Why can't they tax the crap out of something else for a change? If they're so concerned about the children then hit sugery cereals and cookies and candy or something.

It's the only way that the hypocrites can justify a legal drug that kills so many, like the legal drug alcohol.
Yet all the other drugs COMBINED don't anywhere near kill that amount.
Our ways are delusional.
Some countries they chew coca and outlaw coffee!

Here's what is sooo funny....The SCHIP bill needs 22 million NEW smokers to raise enough money to support this program....ummmm after we have spent billions on programs to help people quit smoking, because it is one of the causes of high insurance rates

This is definitely a Democratic idea of a way to pay for a program...way to go Pelosi, you just keep showing your stupidity more and more everyday!