Obama views children's health bill as step one
Photo 
President Barack Obama signs into law the State Children's Health Insurance Program in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009. Surrounding Obama, from left to right, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., Sen. John Rockefeller, D-W.Va., Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., seated, Senate Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Vice President Joe Biden.
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama sees expansion of government health insurance to millions of lower-income children as a first step of several to come in providing coverage for all Americans.
Ending a two-year effort by Democrats, Obama signed legislation Wednesday that will allow about 7 million children to continue coverage through the State Children's Health Insurance Program and allow an additional 4 million to sign up.
"The way I see it, providing coverage to 11 million children through CHIP is a down payment on my commitment to cover every single American," Obama said at a White House bill-signing ceremony.
The measure was similar to two bills vetoed by former President George W. Bush. It was pushed through both the House and Senate by Democrats eager to give Obama an early victory on health care.
Most lawmakers and advocacy groups in the health reform debate acknowledge that the next steps toward reform will be harder than expanding SCHIP, given the increasing federal deficit.
More ambitious changes envisioned by Obama will face entrenched interests in the health care community and Republicans who oppose expanding government-funded insurance.
"Republicans are committed to making health care more affordable, more accessible and offer more options to American families," said Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. "Unfortunately, the only options we've seen so far this Congress would push us to a one-size-fits all government-run system."
And not all Democrats are on the same page with Obama. Montana Sen. Max Baucus, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, plans to put together a bill that differs from the president's goal of universal coverage.
Obama acknowledged the difficulties of reforming health care at Wednesday's bill-signing ceremony "It won't be easy; it won't happen all at once," the president said. "But this bill that I'm about to sign, that wasn't easy either."
Since August 2007, the House voted seven times to expand the children's health insurance program. Opposition from Bush helped stiffen Republican resolve and helped block passage of the measures.
During final debate Wednesday before the bill passed the House, 290-135, Republicans criticized the cost of the measure. They also criticized allowing into the program an estimated 2.4 million children who otherwise might have access to private insurance.
"This debate is about, do we want a children's health insurance program that covers every child in America with state and federal dollars regardless of their ability to pay?" said Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas. "Do we want to freeze out the private sector for health insurance?"
But supporters said that ensuring children had access to adequate health care was a matter of priorities. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., said an estimated 4 million people have lost employer-sponsored insurance in the past year.
"Do they keep their families' health insurance or do they put food on the table at night? During this economic recession, these kinds of decisions are unfortunately becoming more common," Pallone said.
Feb 12, 2009 at 11:02 a.m.
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So the problem isn't our health care system (i.e. insurance), but rather lack of resources (organs).
If Canadians have to come here because of waiting lines, is the problem their socialized health care or is it a lack of sufficient resources (doctors)?
I see a lack of doctors or a lack of viable organs as problematic but not necessarily due to the type of medical insurance that a country has.
Feb 9, 2009 at 10:51 a.m.
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"We have lines for medical treatment in this country. Don't believe me? Feel free to damage your liver or heart and try to get a transplant."
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The lines for transplants are due to waiting for viable organs, not for the medical care; another huge distinction.
Feb 8, 2009 at 7:37 a.m.
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Wow, one guy couldn't or wouldn't figure out how to properly use the NHS to get dental treatment?!? Am I supposed to take that to mean that the NHS is a huge failure and there is a conspiracy to hide it? It seems to me that it is at least as likely that, like every medical system, some people will be unable (through fault of their own or not) to effectively use the system.
We have lines for medical treatment in this country. Don't believe me? Feel free to damage your liver or heart and try to get a transplant. If the Canadian system has lines, it is a problem of needing more doctors to serve the patients' needs. The answer isn't to give fewer people less access to medical care.
Feb 6, 2009 at 10:31 p.m.
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lovemycountry don't be throwing reality into the otherwise clouded view of the utopian universal healthcare. Question: Where will the Canadians go for their health care needs because their waiting lines are too long?
Feb 6, 2009 at 6:25 p.m.
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photogirl - just for you, an example of "well" socialized medicine is working in the United Kingdom.
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Man pulls out 13 of his own teeth with pliers 'because he couldn't find an NHS dentist'
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...
Feb 6, 2009 at 5:32 p.m.
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Universal Healthcare is a fact in EVERY industrialized nation except our own. Their children do better in school, their elderly live longer, and their citizens are in better health overall.
Yeah....socialized medicine is incredibly evil.
I'm shuddering. Seriously.
Feb 6, 2009 at 5:11 p.m.
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Sparks: Just like that huge $600 stimulus check that Bushman gave us. That sure put me into a higher tax bracket and certainly paid my bills. Get real. The Republicans have had the last 8 years to get things straight and they did nothing except to put us further and further in debt.
Feb 6, 2009 at 5 p.m.
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Oh, I'm Joseph Graham.
Forgot to write that on the other post!
Feb 6, 2009 at 4:57 p.m.
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I like Obamas plans for the future, especially the war ending, because after thats over we need to mend the ties with other countries and not have to pay for wars when we are in a reccession.
Feb 6, 2009 at 4:32 p.m.
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upnorthwi: And I am very happy to say I VOTED FOR OBAMA!!! If 2008 hadn't been a presidential election year, when do you think that President Bush and his friends would have finally agreed that maybe, just maybe, our economy was in trouble?! People are going to need help with their health care costs. Not all of the newly unemployed will be able to handle their cobra insurance payments. I faithfully paid over $500 a month for over 14 months before I gave up over the cost. I was lucky to get several part-time jobs during that time period but never one with health care coverage. I looked into buying private insurance but found it was also too expensive due to my needing one prescription medication indefinitely. Thank goodness that I have never been one to visit a doctor often (not even when I had full coverage).
Feb 6, 2009 at 4:21 p.m.
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If the Republicans have been so committed to providing more-affordable health care, why has it not happened yet? When President Bush "stifled" this legislation multiple times in the past did he encourage GOP lawmakers to do something else to make health care more affordable? We are only talking about 11 million American children here with this new program. You folks are overreacting. (There, now you have me as your appointed Obama backer. Start throwing your poisoned darts at me.)
Feb 6, 2009 at 3:27 p.m.
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I'm SO GLAD when politics comes up that I can say I DIDN'T VOTE FOR OBAMA!!!!! The "savior" is doing far from saving us. I can't bear to think of what the next 4 years are going to bring us...
Feb 6, 2009 at 5:21 a.m.
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The government learns nothing from its mistakes. Just look back at the program Hawaii dumped because of unforeseen cost increases. The “good-intentioned” program to pay the health care of uninsured children caused those parents currently paying for insurance for their kids to drop it --- why buy insurance when you can get the governments for free! The same thing will happen with this fiasco --- those currently covered by private insurance will drop it to fall under the free program and it will balloon 5-10 times the original prediction.
Feb 5, 2009 at 7:39 p.m.
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Yes, some supporter of this legislation should really jump in on this discussion which centers on hyperbole regarding the small shift towards a social democracy that this legislation represents.
Feb 5, 2009 at 6:26 p.m.
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Right usaret, the comrades are very quiet here so far.
Feb 5, 2009 at 6:02 p.m.
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And just think he has only been in office for two weeks!!!!!
Feb 5, 2009 at 3:25 p.m.
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This bill in President Obama's own words, is "a first step." Say it with me now..... to......SOCIALISM!!!
Feb 5, 2009 at 12:51 p.m.
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Notice the silence in the air from the Obama supporters. Interesting!!!!!!!!!!!
Feb 5, 2009 at 10:56 a.m.
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Yep, pay for everyone else. Have to love the direction America is going. God help us. Don't worry, we'll be getting a stimulus check. One in the amount of squat that you can pay your power and light bill with and that it's. What the hell are they thinking? If you're going to give out a stimulus check to the public, it sure better be enough to actually have some impact.
Feb 5, 2009 at 9:19 a.m.
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Perfect example of the complete disconnect of reality between Washington and everywhere else. President Rock Star sees this as a "first step" toward national health care. I see this as just another step toward basically having to turn my entire paycheck over to the government so that they can give me an allowance and tell me how much I can live on. Anybody who thinks health care is expensive now, just wait until the government gives it to you for "free".
Feb 5, 2009 at 9:10 a.m.
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Good job Mr. President you now have allowed for people that already have health insurance to sign up for Government health care. You may have wanted to do some more homework on this issue before you signed this bill.
Feb 5, 2009 at 8:51 a.m.
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we will have socialized health care before too long also! what a stupid move! I can't believe this is happening in the USA!! Oh yeah, I shouldn't be surprised, CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN!!!! I think the american people who voted for obama will get their brains back soon and wonder why they ever voted for this clown. Of course we won't need our brain before long as the government along with the new messiah will tell us how to think too!! God help us!!!!
Feb 5, 2009 at 8:26 a.m.
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Gov taking over another parent responsibility. How long before the government just takes over EVERYTHING? I believe the price tag is at $35 Billion.
Feb 5, 2009 at 6:39 a.m.
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Now that the children have become a ward of the State, how much will this cost?
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