Republicans have been coming up with a lot of reasons to supposedly oppose the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The Clarion Ledger takes one of those excuses on.
Bush supporters are lining up behind the "sound byte" that it would provide health insurance for families with incomes up to $80,000 in some states which poorer states like Mississippi might find unpalatable.
But, it costs more to live in urban areas. Homes that cost $200,000 in Mississippi can cost $1 million in places like San Francisco. To try to equate the costs with a family of four in a rural area is comparing apples and oranges, and those who do it know it.
The fact is, CHIP is aimed at providing health insurance for the "working poor," those who are not on welfare and work, but are not offered it through their employers and earn too little to be able to afford it.
It's ridiculous that President Bush will keep vetoing children's healthcare, but that is what he continues to do.
Here's my issue with expanding SCHIP. While your point about housing in San Francisco is valid, it is also true that the average income is about twice that of Jackson, MS. Also, it seems contradictory to claim someone is "working poor" if they live in a million dollar home.
ReplyDeleteTo the heads of the family of four in San Fran that lives in a million dollar home and makes 80K per year I would pose this question. What has a higher priority for your family... a million dollar home or health care for your two children?
I think if you asked them this they would say the insurance, but actions speak louder than words, you know.
Always have, always will.