by Mark Silva
Here's a cheerful note from the White House:
"Over half the families in America are not poor.''
That's a good glass half-full way of looking at the debate over health insurance for children. With the president having vetoed -- and having sustained that veto -- a bill offering health care to the children of families living at three times the federal poverty level, the White House maintains it is willing to find more money for health care for lower-income children.
Just not the middle class.
"Over Half The Families In America Are Not Poor,'' the White House announces today, in a release focusing on a statement by Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto -- who also is not poor.
"Congress' SCHIP Bill Would Cover The Majority Of American Families With Children,'' it notes of the State Children's Health Insurance Program legislation.
"The President vetoed Congress' SCHIP bill because they were asking for a policy that was bad, not because they were asking for too much money,'' Fratto is quoted as saying. "Congress' bill would result in 57 percent of children in America and about 53 percent of families with children being potentially eligible for public assistance. The president has said poor children should come first. Over half the families in America are not poor."
The White House adds, in support of the president's case:
-- Congress' SCHIP bill would strongly encourage States to provide government health coverage for children in families making 300 percent of the Federal poverty level.
-- 300 percent of the Federal poverty level is nearly $62,000 per year for a family of four.
-- The median household income for all households with children under 18 is $58,865.
-- 57 percent of all children are in families that are at or below 300 percent of the poverty level.
-- 53 percent of families with children are at or below 300 percent of the poverty level.
-- SCHIP was created to help lower-income children who do not qualify for Medicaid (children in families at or below 200 percent of the Federal poverty level).
-- States have not enrolled in SCHIP more than 500,000 poor children in families under 200 percent of the poverty level who are eligible.
-- The President believes 95 percent of SCHIP-eligible children should be covered before children from wealthier households are covered.
-- Of the 5.8 million enrollees Congress' legislation would attract by 2012, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that 2.0 million (one in three) would drop private insurance to enroll.
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Comments
Here's a cheerful note from the White House:
"Over half the families in America are not poor.''
Easy to say when your rich!
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | October 23, 2007 11:52 AM
So Bush can ask for billions more for wars but not more money to insure millions of children. Put the two together & you see where Bush's priorities are.
It's econ 101 again; You can buy either more butter or more guns, but you can't buy more of both.
Posted by: RomanB | October 23, 2007 12:01 PM
Obvious where you're coming from when you lift that quote entirely out of context. Why didn't you try to be fair and lift "57 percent of all children are in families that are at or below 300 percent of the poverty level." These are serious times. Stop Bush-whacking just for fun.
Posted by: Elizabeth | October 23, 2007 12:10 PM
It's really rather sad that we have a President who points to the fact that 53% of all families with children live within 300% of the poverty level with pride rather than shame.
Posted by: AJF | October 23, 2007 12:34 PM
When will Republics be honest about the debate. Medicaid is for poor children. SCHIP is for middle class families who make too much to qualify for Medicaid and cannot afford health insurance for their children. Health care that is too expensive is a problem and Democrats are putting forth a solution.
Posted by: janet | October 23, 2007 12:42 PM
NewSpeak;
A rhetorical technique that renders English meaningless.
(Eric Blair,(Orwell))
Posted by: C.Morris | October 23, 2007 12:48 PM
DENIAL is a good thing apparently...I mean look $455 BILLION DOLLARS for a war to kill people, while people in our country decide what priority to deal with DAILY; house versus tent, food versus medicine..and a lot of those are the Veterans AFTER they return!
How much money goes to our RIGHT TO LIVE!? "We have met the enemy and we are they"
Posted by: Just Me | October 23, 2007 12:50 PM
Once again, SCHIP is not for poor children - that is Medicaid. This program is for the lower middle class and middle class children whose families cannot afford health insurance.
Secondly, this is not government health insurance - it is done through private health insurance companies.
More importantly, if W is so against government health care plans, maybe he and the rest of the GOP Congressmen who voted against this plan would give up THEIR government health insurance plan!!!
Posted by: BobinATL | October 23, 2007 12:51 PM
This policy makes me sick to my stomach. Where are the Christian values now?
Posted by: Jason | October 23, 2007 12:54 PM
After we get the bill for the wars it'll be less than 10% of American's are not poor!
Posted by: DCB | October 23, 2007 12:58 PM
Talk about putting a twist on an out of context sentence! Are the Liberals that worried that they have to keep bashing the President, using unwarrented negative comments?
Posted by: Henri | October 23, 2007 1:01 PM
Just over half the families in America are not poor. So, I guess that that means that just under half of the families in America ARE POOR??!!! BTW, Mr. Bush, how are "them childrens" (his term, not mine. I guess "childrens" is the Yale plurality of children.).
Posted by: p | October 23, 2007 1:19 PM
$62000.00 a year sounds like a lot, doesn't it? Unfortunately, it's really not. My husband and I make a combined income of $65000.00 per year, we have no children, rent an apartment for $900.00 a month, pay for fuel on a car we have on permanent loan from the in-laws, and we get a free bus pass from our employer. We STILL run out of money before payday! Now if we were to add two children, we wouldn't make it.
I thought if you made it to the "middle class," you were gainfully employed but just not able to buy major extras. Sorry to say, but the "middle class" ISN'T MAKING IT. 200% OF POVERTY LEVEL IS NOT ENOUGH. Shouldn't we also consider raising the poverty level to reflect quality of life more accurately??
Posted by: Cristine | October 23, 2007 1:30 PM
"Then let them eat cake!"
Posted by: Distrust and Verify | October 23, 2007 1:34 PM
Americans need to stop paying taxes. No taxation without (real) representation! Not one more federal tax dollar from me! It's time to tell King George to go to hell once again.
Posted by: The Decider | October 23, 2007 1:56 PM
Who says there isn't class warfare in this country? The rich are fighting us, it's just we're not fighting back. Let's get organized to stop this madness!
Posted by: Caleb Friz | October 23, 2007 2:00 PM
This policy makes me sick to my stomach. Where are the Christian values now?
Posted by: Jason | October 23, 2007 12:54 PM
AMEN!!! This is an American tragedy. How a nation treats it's own poor and disadvantaged says much about the character and soul of that nation.
Posted by: An Inconvenient Truth | October 23, 2007 2:34 PM
If half the country is 'not Poor' then why is the economy crashing slowly...How will you remember this President Bush when he leaves office?
Posted by: Buddy | October 23, 2007 2:45 PM
Isn't it interesting that in President Reagan's diary he describes Vice President Bush bring his son, George W., to the White House so that President Reagan could help the 40 year olds get a job. He didn't put it in such polite language. "W" was always bailed out and has no knowledge of poverty or the middle class.
Posted by: SFT, Elgin, IL | October 23, 2007 3:19 PM
Isn't it interesting that in President Reagan's diary he describes Vice President Bush bring his son, George W., to the White House so that President Reagan could help the 40 year olds get a job. He didn't put it in such polite language. "W" was always bailed out and has no knowledge of poverty or the middle class.
Posted by: SFT, Elgin, IL | October 23, 2007 3:19 PM
Just putting it out there: Does that make Obama a good candidate for his experience with poverty and community organizing?
...Discuss.
Posted by: mia | October 23, 2007 4:13 PM
After the Democrats in Illinois, Cook County and Chicago get done with us by raising all of our taxes, the number of
poor people will be rising substantially more...unless you're a relative of one of the Democrat leaders, that is.
Posted by: Jimmy C. | October 23, 2007 4:39 PM
So many people are unhappy with the income levels of Americans? Shame on you. Is it that you can’t get a good job? Maybe you are lazy? You do know that we have to import people to work here? No not the Mexicans lol (I am one). The Indians. And not for 300% of poverty level. But about 600%. Got to love smart people. Don’t get mad, get an education, and get a real job, there giving them away with health benefits.
Posted by: Prof Torres | October 23, 2007 5:00 PM
why not put everyone on welfare my tax dollars paying welfare when i strugle to buy gas and food
Posted by: ron folk | October 23, 2007 5:02 PM
As we all know, the American middle class has been diced, sliced up and destroyed a little piece at a time since, oh, about 1981.
We are being slowly 'frog boiled' a couple degrees at a time.
Posted by: C.Morris | October 23, 2007 5:04 PM
"AND HE COULD GIVE A RATS BUTT ABOUT ANY ONE OTHER THAN HIMSELF. NOT EVEN HIS WIFE OR KIDS."
THEY ARE JUST SECONDARY CITIZENS COVERED UNDER HIS 35.00 A MONTH MEDICAL PLAN.
Posted by: Roger Morris | October 23, 2007 6:02 PM
the poor will endure
so says KIng George
as he gorges himself on
caviar and wine
the childrens not mine
"the middle class,
they can kiss my ___"
as he cackles and vetoes
another health bill
He's not done with war,
hasn't gotten his fill
"My buddies need the cash
And so do I
So what, cry
You're only middle class
And you can kiss my ___."
Posted by: the truth | October 23, 2007 8:39 PM
If half the country is 'not Poor' then why is the economy crashing slowly...How will you remember this President Bush when he leaves office?
Posted by: Buddy | October 23, 2007 2:45 PM
I remember him as a screw up, loser, silver spooner bum!
Posted by: Silent Dark & Obscure | October 23, 2007 10:02 PM