Less Than 24 Hours Remain Before Congress Votes to Override President Bush's Effort to Block Health Care for Ohio's Children

Press Release

LESS THAN 24 HOURS REMAIN BEFORE CONGRESS VOTES TO OVERRIDE PRESIDENT BUSH'S EFFORT TO BLOCK HEALTH CARE FOR OHIO'S CHILDREN

- Bush Administration Continues to Mislead the Public About SCHIP Bill to Distract From Their Efforts to Deny Millions of Children Health Insurance -

As the critical veto override vote rapidly approaches, Congressman Zack Space (OH-18) urged his Republican colleagues to side with a large bi-partisan Congressional majority, the overwhelming majority of Americans, and 10 million children by voting to override Bush's SCHIP veto. Passed by 265 votes in the House of Representatives, the vote fell just short of the supermajority necessary for a veto-proof margin.

"This issue is just too important to play politics," Space said. "President Bush should know better than to risk the health of our children to score cheap political points. Now, the question is, will House Republicans stand with Bush or our children?"

"The President continues to use deceitful statements as a red herring to distract the American public from the central issue here: he is vetoing children's healthcare. We are at a critical time in this debate on how we are going to insure our children, and the President can't even get his facts straight."

"As I have said, I never thought I would see a day when the President would veto legislation because it insures too many children. We as a Congress have a constitutionally mandated right and responsibility to keep a check the power of the executive, and that is exactly what I hope my colleagues will do," Space continued.

SCHIP Reality vs. Rhetoric

White House Rhetoric:

Under the bipartisan SCHIP legislation, families making $83,000 per year would be eligible to be enrolled in the SCHIP program.

Reality:

The bipartisan SCHIP bill vetoed by the President does not raise the eligibility level for SCHIP. In addition, no state currently offers SCHIP coverage to families making $83,000. The state of New York applied to do so -- and was denied by the Bush Administration. Under the legislation the President vetoed, the Bush Administration would continue to have the ability to determine New York eligibility levels.

White House Rhetoric:

"Poor kids first"

Reality:

We agree. That's why we cover them with Medicaid, that's why we fixed the states' constant shortfalls under this administration, and that's why 90% of families covered by SCHIP are living under 200% of poverty.

White House Rhetoric:

The bipartisan SCHIP legislation covers illegal immigrants.

Reality:

The bipartisan SCHIP bill states clearly that "Nothing in this Act allows Federal payment for individuals who are not legal residents." In fact, the bipartisan SCHIP bill does not provide benefits for legal immigrant children.

White House Rhetoric:

The SCHIP measure will lead to government-run socialized medicine by taking children out of private health care and put them in government run health care.

Reality:

77% of children in SCHIP receive their health care through private insurance companies. The American Medical Association, the Association of Health Insurance Plans, and PhRMA - hardly advocates of socialized medicine - all support the bill.

Congress is set to vote on overturning Bush's SCHIP veto Thursday afternoon.

Congressman Space represents Ohio's 18th Congressional District. Elected in 2006, he is working to restore integrity to the office, expand Ohio's economy, and support renewable energy.

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