October 30, 2007
There are smart people in Longview
And one of them is named Sarah White...
Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, was one of the members of Congress who voted against SCHIP reauthorization this month — despite recent polls showing about 80 percent of Americans support it nationwide.Gohmert declares, "Low-income children should not be left without health care ..." But he excuses his no vote by criticizing "earmarks" in the bill and claiming that it "included a dramatic expansion of the program to many children who are not from poor families ..."
I guess it all depends on what you mean by "poor." A single parent with one child who makes $13,690 per year qualifies as poor
in America. That child would actually qualify for Medicaid. But CHIP was designed for children from families whose incomes are just above that level — it subsidizes private coverage for low-income working families so that kids can go to a primary-care physician, not just the ER. Earmarks, unfortunately are routinely added to all kinds of bills for such pork-barrel projects as Alaska's infamous "Bridge to Nowhere." Congress could and should end the practice of earmarks altogether — as one of several necessary steps to make itself accountable to voters again. But they make a lame excuse for voting against SCHIP.
Gohmert and others seem to be trying to scare us Americans into just accepting the status quo — expensive and inequitable private health insurance policies (if you can get one). Yet you don't hear them propose abolishing the generous government plan for their health care — a plan most Americans would feel fortunate to have.
Remember when the insurance industry first rolled out HMOs in the 80s? They promised that we would enjoy lower health care costs — and it would be easier to get in to see the doctor.
Instead, costs have soared and today's health insurance industry has become a gargantuan gatekeeper — fighting to keep our health care claims from storming the castle and raiding its treasure.
Gohmert claims that the Democrats "have taken the SCHIP program designed for poor children and used it to expand Hillary-care to unbelievable proportions." This 'ad feminem' attack seems to refer to his objection that states could enroll children of families who earn up to three times the poverty level. That's still only a total of $41,070 for a single parent and child to live on — and it may take a fourth of that to pay for private health insurance.
If recent history is any guide, the cost of private insurance will keep going up — and more working and middle class people will be unable to buy it. Yet anything that could cut into profits for the financial sector will usually get labeled "socialistic, communistic" or downright left-handed by some detractors.
Despite the mudslinging against so-called "Washington-controlled" health care, there's nothing really so scary about a government-supported health care program. Since the 1960s Medicare has helped secure health care for America's seniors. Our children deserve the same kind of concern.
Won't someone, ANYONE, run against the absurdly stupid Gohmert?
Posted by mcblogger at October 30, 2007 12:11 AM
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