Today’s Washington Post has a story detailing the real results of the continuing funding battle over the State Children’s Health Insurance program. The House on Thursday will attempt an override of the President’s veto, but it does not appear that the votes are there to succeed. (Niki Tsongas has said she will vote to override, Jim Ogonowski will not say how he will vote). From the Post:
At current funding levels, 21 states would run out of money before the end of the fiscal year next September, according to the Congressional Research Service.
In California, which would run out in June, state SCHIP director Lesley Cummings on Friday recommended adopting emergency regulations that would allow state officials to establish a waiting list and a process for cutting off some of the 830,000 children on the state’s $1.3 billion-a-year program.
In Louisiana, as many as 37,000 of the 111,000 children on SCHIP might have to be cut to keep the program afloat, said J. Ruth Kennedy, the state’s SCHIP director. In Georgia, which already has an enrollment cap of 295,000, officials are considering tightening eligibility requirements, reducing enrollment and limiting dental benefits, said Rhonda Medows, commissioner of Georgia’s Department of Community Health.
The Administration responded with Secretary Leavitt:
Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said the department has been working with governors of 49 states to make sure that no one loses coverage.
“I know that there are states out there who in the future could have problems if we don’t get this solved,” Leavitt said.
And so the political deadlock has real consequences. And the race in the Fifth Congressional might impact the success or failure of the override attempt in the House. Regardless of claim you can rest assured that candidate Ogonowski will vote to sustain the President’s veto if elected. There is a real difference here, despite Mr. Ogonowski’s attempt to politically mute that difference.
Bill Manzi.com 
I call your attention to the following paragraph copied from you discussion above;
In California, which would run out in June, state SCHIP director Lesley Cummings on Friday recommended adopting emergency regulations that would allow state officials to establish a waiting list and a process for cutting off some of the 830,000 children on the state’s $1.3 billion-a-year program.
In case you want to see a picture of what a Government health care program will be like read above. Note key words, “waiting list” “cutting off children”.
THERE ISN’T ENOUGH MONEY TO FEED THESE PROGRAM HOGS. MONEY WILL ALWAYS BE SHORT. PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS BE PIT INTO LINES WITH NO RECOURSE AS BUREAUCRATS IN WASHINTON METER OUT SCARCE RESOURSES.
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Your Honor,
I accidentally sent the previous post out prematurely.
I continue.
Billions for health care.
Billions for state tnsportation
Billions to fix state schools.
A billion for biotech.
$5,000 for each newborn
%1,000 for each new 401 plan
You party seems ready to run things. The people who pay your real estate tax bill will pay for the above.
Well, your honor, it’s you time. I hope you don’t have to raise our real estate taxes. WAIT, our Governor is going to ;ower those taxes. Whew.
The SCHIP expansion must be defeated, period.
Jules
Jules
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Jules,
I assume you also oppose Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, all programs created and funded by the Democratic Party. All programs in which we spend considerable money. On SCHIP the program covers children that have essentially fallen through the cracks of Medicaid eligibility. It is funded largely through private insurers, and program provisions attempt to prevent those with their own insurance from abandoning that coverage and seeking SCHIP coverage. (By virtue of a mandatory wait period)Individual states that seek to expand eligibility must seek and receive federal waivers to do so. Please keep in mind that many of these children, absent SCHIP coverage, would seek and receive health care for free. Who pays then? In Massachusetts we have in the past covered through the “free care pool” that ends up being paid for by tax dollars and increased health care insurance premiums for everyone else. Cost shifting at its best. Your point about ever-escalating costs in this case is true, but I come to a different conclusion. Without cost containment our entire health care system will implode, not just SCHIP. You cannot deny people health care because they cannot afford it in a humane society, and market mechanisms will not solve this problem.
Bill
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“…market mechanisms will not solve this problem.” Not yet, but “government mechanisms” frighten people. That’s what I hear…”more government, higher taxes, ineffective programs, and lots of PR to make it look good.” I’m all for expanding the schip, but if by doing so, it prevents the “entire health care system” from imploding, why not mandate the system to help pay for it, not the taxpayers? I know the first answer will be, “taxes will not be affected,” but that’s like saying “If it rains, no one will get wet.” What comes down from the government first goes up (or will eventually) from the taxpayers who fund it.
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Your Honor,
I will try and give a thoughtful response to your last entry later. I would point out Skip Van Lenten’s observation that ““government mechanisms” frighten people”. He’s right, they should be afraid.
But first, the good news; Your “rubber hits the road” entry—that loud screech you hear are the brakes being thrown into emergency stop. The SCHIP super sizing has been brought to a stop.
The program as constituted, serves millions of kids. The President will sign a reasonable expansion cover those children who need the service.
The dead program does more than it should.
I will respond in depth later.
Jules.
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