Pence Urges President to Veto Massive Increase in Schip Program

Press Release

PENCE URGES PRESIDENT TO VETO MASSIVE INCREASE IN SCHIP PROGRAM

Sharing the House Mouse Book

Washington, Oct 2 -

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence gave the following speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives this morning urging President Bush to veto the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) because it will create a middle-class entitlement:

"In 1998, the Republican Congress enacted the State Children's Health Insurance Program to help children's families near poverty. But now, true to their big government agenda, the Democrat Congress has sent the President a massive increase in the SCHIP Program that will usher in a new era of socialized medicine in America.

"This bill will take a program designed to help children near the poverty level and expand it to include families with incomes of up to $83,000 a year.

"Democrats would pay for this middle class entitlement with a 61 cent per pack tax increase on cigarettes.

"Let's provide health insurance for children of the poor, and the near poor, but let's reject a liberal Democratic Congress attempt to create middle class entitlements on the backs of American smokers.

"Mr. President, veto this bill."

Source