Thread: House to Vote on New Version of Child Health Bill

House to Vote on New Version of Child Health Bill

By ROBERT PEAR
Published: October 25, 2007

http://www.nytimes.com/

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 — Sensing a political advantage, Democrats rushed Wednesday to move a health care bill for children back to the House floor, having made minor changes to win over more Republicans.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House would vote Thursday on the new bill. Like the original, which President Bush vetoed three weeks ago, it would cover 10 million children through the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and increase spending on the program by $35 billion, for a total of $60 billion, in the next five years.

But the new bill would tighten eligibility for the program, generally barring the use of federal money to cover illegal immigrants, childless adults and children of families with incomes exceeding three times the poverty level: $61,950 for a family of four.

“The bill addresses all of the concerns that were expressed by our colleagues and by the president,â€

Originally Posted by GREGAGREATAMERICAN

[size=18]House to Vote on New Version of Child Health Bill

The new bill, like the original, would require states to verify the citizenship — or, in a limited number of cases, the legal immigrant status — of people seeking or receiving benefits under the program. A state could try to confirm citizenship by checking whether a person’s name and Social Security number matched those in federal records. If this approach did not work, states would have to examine documents like birth certificates to confirm eligibility.

So this "requires" states to verify citizenship? States and cities around the country violate other immigration laws already-how will this be any different?

How long before a federal judge steps in and halts these "checks"? Just as the judge did in checking the no match letters? I can see it now-this will be considered "profiling" and will put an "undue burden" on others.

Also, why should any legal immigrant receive any type of welfare benefit? That should be for US citizens only.

This must be stopped-if anyone thinks illegals will not get covered under this, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.....

House to Test Revised Kids' Health Bill
Thursday, October 25, 2007 6:40 AM EDT
The Associated Press
By CHARLES BABINGTON Associated Press Writer

http://broadband.zoomtown.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — House members are about to learn whether some nips and tucks to a children's health bill will be enough to secure a veto-proof margin against a White House that wants major surgery.

The House planned to vote Thursday on a modestly revised version of a bill that President Bush vetoed Oct. 3. Last week the House fell 13 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to override the veto, which had been prompted by Bush's objections to a major expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

The bill's supporters now hope the revisions will attract the seven or more Republicans needed to change the outcome later this fall. GOP leaders urged their colleagues to resist, saying the changes are too minor to justify abandoning Bush on a high-profile issue.

As before, the bill would add would $35 billion over five years to the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The program, which now covers 6 million children, would enroll 4 million more. The increase would be paid for with a 61-cent increase in the federal excise tax on a pack of cigarettes, which Bush opposes.

Under the revisions, the program would exclude families earning more than three times the federal poverty rate. Low-income childless adults, which some states cover, would be phased out in one year. And states would have to be more rigorous in checking the validity of applicants' Social Security numbers, an effort to exclude illegal immigrants.

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt says lawmakers have not justified the need for a $35 billion expansion to cover 10 million children.

Democrats and their GOP allies are targeting 38 House Republicans who voted to sustain Bush's veto and later outlined their concerns in a letter.

The revised bill "addresses all the concerns that were expressed by our colleagues and by the president," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters Wednesday night. "This is a clarification of the legislation" vetoed by Bush.

The 10-year-old health insurance program is designed for families that make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to buy medical coverage. The main targets are families earning no more than twice the federal poverty rate, or $41,300 for a family of four.

Pelosi rejected requests from some Republicans to postpone a vote to give GOP moderates more time to round up converts. Republicans also noted that several California lawmakers will be absent Thursday to review wildfire damage in their districts.

Democrats said Thursday's vote is important, but not the crucial test, because both parties agree the bill will easily receive a simple majority. If Bush vetoes the measure, after House and Senate passage, the showdown will occur when its supporters again seek the two-thirds House majority needed for an override.

A veto-proof margin in the Senate is considered assured.

On Oct. 18 the House voted 273-156 to override Bush's veto, 13 votes short of a two-thirds majority. Forty-four Republicans joined 229 Democrats in voting to override.

Originally Posted by Nicole

Originally Posted by GREGAGREATAMERICAN

[size=18]House to Vote on New Version of Child Health Bill

The new bill, like the original, would require states to verify the citizenship — or, in a limited number of cases, the legal immigrant status — of people seeking or receiving benefits under the program. A state could try to confirm citizenship by checking whether a person’s name and Social Security number matched those in federal records. If this approach did not work, states would have to examine documents like birth certificates to confirm eligibility.

So this "requires" states to verify citizenship? States and cities around the country violate other immigration laws already-how will this be any different?

How long before a federal judge steps in and halts these "checks"? Just as the judge did in checking the no match letters? I can see it now-this will be considered "profiling" and will put an "undue burden" on others.

Also, why should any legal immigrant receive any type of welfare benefit? That should be for US citizens only.

This must be stopped-if anyone thinks illegals will not get covered under this, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.....

Good Questions