Rep. Calvert Sustains Presidential Veto of SCHIP

Press Release

Rep. Calvert Sustains Presidential Veto of SCHIP

Today Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) voted to sustain the President's veto of H.R. 3963, a massive expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The vote to override the veto, which requires a two-thirds majority, failed by 260 - 152.

"I find it unconscionable that Speaker Pelosi has hijacked a successful program, created by Republicans ten years ago with my support, in an effort to provide benefits to illegal immigrants and bring the U.S. one step closer to a nationalized system of healthcare," said Rep. Calvert.

This is the second veto override on SCHIP; although the bill had a different number attached, there were no substantial changes from the previous bill. Congress already reauthorized and fully funded SCHIP through March 31, 2009 - the vote today is a political ploy used by Democrats to mask an unsuccessful legislative agenda that places illegal immigrants above low-income children.

Rep. Calvert is a co-sponsor of H.R. 3584 which would re-authorize SCHIP for 18 months and provide and additional $2.6 billion to ensure the continued coverage of low-income children.

H.R. 3963 expands the program to a point that undermines the original purpose of SCHIP - to provide medical insurance for low-income children. The bill would provide benefits to middle-class families, childless adults, and would increase access to taxpayer funded health benefits to illegal immigrants. The bill also provides SCHIP to higher income brackets which would shift it away from covering low-income children who are already eligible but not enrolled.

The Democrat expansion of SCHIP is also irresponsibly funded by increasing the federal tax on cigarettes which would require an additional 22 million new smokers to fund. The most likely target to attract new smokers would be adolescents and young adults.

"I cannot reiterate enough my support for the existing SCHIP program and for decreasing the number of uninsured children in this country," stated Rep. Calvert. "However, I have strong concerns that the Majority Party is on a path to destroy this program and it will be our nation's neediest children who pay the price."

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