Do you support the newly signed child health program bill?
By laylomo
@laylomo (165)
United States
December 29, 2007 6:23pm CST
President George W. Bush signed into law a temporary extension of a popular health insurance program for children after months of deadlock with the Democratic-led Congress.
The legislation extends the program that covers about 6.6 million poor children through March 31,2009, leaving decisions about renewal to the next president and Congress.
The legislation also provides a 0.5 increase for Medicare doctors for six months, delaying a schedule 10 percent pay cut.
Bush twice vetoed more ambitious earlier bills that would have expanded the children's health program to cover about 10 million children in low and moderate income families, despite bipartisan support.
Bush and Democrats have been locked in a fight over budget and spending and the president said the previous bills were too costly and would push more children into government-run health care instead of private plans.
Bush also objected to raising tobacco taxes to pay for the proposed expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program known as SCHIP.
Democrats had hoped for a short-term extension so they could reopen the battle before the November 2008 presidential and congressional elections, but Republicans forced them to extend it through March 2009.
Do you support this new bill; why or why not?
1 person likes this
1 response
@janisspaggiari59 (656)
• United States
30 Dec 07
I'm hoping to wait for Hillary and her plan.I'm sure it'll be a good one.