Boozman: Children's Health a Moral Obligation

Statement

Calls current legislation "bad policy"

U.S. Representative John Boozman (R-AR) released the following statement following the House vote on expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program beyond focusing solely on low-income families:

"The health of our children is a moral obligation. However, that obligation must be undertaken in a manner which serves the interests of the American people. This bill, while seemingly serving a good cause, represents bad policy which would allow illegal immigrants access to taxpayer benefits by allowing states to take social security numbers as ‘proof' of legal status instead of using actual secure identification.

"Moreover, the current plan would allow states to expand coverage to families making over $80,000 per year - hardly the definition of ‘low-income' which SCHIP was originally created for. The CBO estimates some two million middle-class children will go off their private insurance to a more expensive government-paid program. This expansion will undermine those who maintain private insurance and, ultimately, increase the government's control over our own health care choices.

"In Arkansas, the state has shown tremendous leadership and success in ensuring our children have access to the healthcare they need. It is important that we in the Congress give states a good bill which does not explode the size of government and guarantees the taxpayers of Arkansas will receive the benefits rightfully due them ahead of people who do not qualify under current law."

Source