Dems Set To Expand SCHIP Program

Kids First, the Republican plan for re-authorization of the State's Children's Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) failed today along party lines. Amendments to change the Democratic plan also failed.

WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 29, 2009 -- In what may be an indication of how congressional battles will go in the next two years, Senate Democrats voted down a GOP plan to reform and limit the SCHIP program, and also swatted away several Republican amendments to limit the Democrat's version.

The authorization for the current SCHIP program expires March 31st.

The Democratic version will decrease restrictions on income eligibility, and allow new immigrants to enter the program immediately, instead of waiting five years as required now.

Republicans, including John McCain (R-AZ), have called the Democratic bill an attempt to socialize insurance, and say it will increase the burden taxpayers bear by allowing more people to opt into the program.

Some estimates say as many as four million new children would become eligible under the plan, increasing costs by $32 billion. 7.4 million children are covered under the program now.

Cigarette smokers would bear much of the cost of the Democratic backed expansion, since their plan would raise the tax on a pack of cigarettes from 39 cents to $1.00 to pay for the programs increased cost.

Republicans claimed their bill, sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), focused on low-income children, and argue the Democratic version will increase taxpayer costs by allowing many now covered under private plans to swap their coverage to the taxpayer funded program.

"Republicans are committed to making sure every child has access to affordable health insurance, but there are important differences between Republicans and Democrats in how you get there," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

Another Republican argument against the Democrats plan is that a current five year waiting period for immigrants to become eligible for the benefits will be removed. They claim that will further raise taxpayer costs.

Democrats counter that argument, calling Republican arguments anti-immigrant, and saying the children of legal immigrants should be covered immediately.

The Cornyn bill, offered as an amendment that would have gutted the Democrats bill, was tabled on an 64-33 vote, with seven Republicans voting with Democrats to effectively kill it.

Six other Republican backed amendments were either likewise tabled or rejected outright today, clearing the way for Senate Dems to pass their version unchanged. A final vote on that version is expected tomorrow.

President Obama, who campaigned on a promise to expand child health care, has pledged to sign the bill into law.