SCHIP shouldn’t be expanded to cover illegal immigrants, childless adults, federal lawmaker says

Oct 15, 2007
By MIKE SCHREIBER
Era Associate Editor

The federal children’s health insurance program SCHIP shouldn’t be expanded to cover illegal immigrants and childless adults, according to one local lawmaker.

As the debate rages in Congress, the House has scheduled an override vote Thursday regarding President Bush’s prior veto of the legislation, which would hike funding by $5 billion instead of the $35 billion called for by Democrats over five years.

“Instead of playing politics with needy children, Congress should agree on a reasonable SCHIP reauthorization that truly helps low income children gain access to quality health care, doesn’t benefit illegal aliens and doesn’t raise taxes on America’s poorest,â€