Muskogee Phoenix: For SCHIP
Muskogee Phoenix Editorial ~ Rep. Dan Boren, D-Okla., says he will change his vote on the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
And well he should.
Boren voted last month against the measure that proposes to expand health insurance to children by adding $35 billion to its cost over the next five years. The vote in the House approved the increase, but the House did not have enough votes to override a presidential veto.
President Bush did just that. He vetoed the bill this month.
Bush contends an expansion would encourage people to drop private health insurance coverage for government coverage, leading to socialized medicine.
If it’s socialized medicine were coming to, then let’s admit where the blame lies.
Bush, like presidents before him, has done little to improve accessibility to health care services or insurance coverage for U.S. citizens.
This session of Congress, like sessions before it, has failed to address health care reform.
Then don’t forget America’s health care industry and insurance companies are more concerned with profits than making health care affordable for all.
And lastly, Americans are to blame, too. We are, more than ever, overweight, less physically active and better at eating unhealthy foods.
Our country simply has to address health care in a comprehensive way. Political experts say chances are good after the 2008 election that we will.
Perhaps, we can wait that long. In the meantime, it’s unconscionable that many children do not receive proper health care because their parents can’t afford regular examinations or services they need.
When the Phoenix called Boren’s office right after his no vote, a spokeswoman said that Boren received many calls from eastern Oklahomans against the SCHIP increase because it meant an increase in the cigarette tax to pay for it. Boren said in a press release he opposed the expansion partly because it relied on a dwindling revenue source, cigarette sales.
Fewer people may be smoking, but cigarette sales are not exactly dwindling. The irony, of course, is that we are counting on taxes on things that are unhealthy to fund good health, when we should be reducing costs so that the average American can simply pay for the health care he or she needs, whether it’s for a visit to the doctor or coverage for a catastrophic illness.
And well he should.
Boren voted last month against the measure that proposes to expand health insurance to children by adding $35 billion to its cost over the next five years. The vote in the House approved the increase, but the House did not have enough votes to override a presidential veto.
President Bush did just that. He vetoed the bill this month.
Bush contends an expansion would encourage people to drop private health insurance coverage for government coverage, leading to socialized medicine.
If it’s socialized medicine were coming to, then let’s admit where the blame lies.
Bush, like presidents before him, has done little to improve accessibility to health care services or insurance coverage for U.S. citizens.
This session of Congress, like sessions before it, has failed to address health care reform.
Then don’t forget America’s health care industry and insurance companies are more concerned with profits than making health care affordable for all.
And lastly, Americans are to blame, too. We are, more than ever, overweight, less physically active and better at eating unhealthy foods.
Our country simply has to address health care in a comprehensive way. Political experts say chances are good after the 2008 election that we will.
Perhaps, we can wait that long. In the meantime, it’s unconscionable that many children do not receive proper health care because their parents can’t afford regular examinations or services they need.
When the Phoenix called Boren’s office right after his no vote, a spokeswoman said that Boren received many calls from eastern Oklahomans against the SCHIP increase because it meant an increase in the cigarette tax to pay for it. Boren said in a press release he opposed the expansion partly because it relied on a dwindling revenue source, cigarette sales.
Fewer people may be smoking, but cigarette sales are not exactly dwindling. The irony, of course, is that we are counting on taxes on things that are unhealthy to fund good health, when we should be reducing costs so that the average American can simply pay for the health care he or she needs, whether it’s for a visit to the doctor or coverage for a catastrophic illness.
Labels: Muskogee Phoenix, SCHIP
posted by Mike McCarville @ 9:34 AM
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