Bush responsible on insurance plan

I’ve noticed several editorial page cartoons about Bush’s veto of State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in the past few days, all of which paint Bush as a heartless Scrooge who cares nothing for the health of the “poor children.” These cartoons deserve a factual and unemotional response.

Bush’s veto does not end SCHIP, which has been in existence for 10 years.

In fact, Bush recommended an increase for this program of $5 billion.

The “poor” that would have been the recipients of taxpayers’ largesse consist of families of four making up to three times the poverty level, or $61,950. Some in the U.S. Senate voted to place the cap at four times poverty level, or $82,600.

The “children” include persons up to the age of 25.

Few of us have any problem with helping out children who are truly poor, but the latest version of SCHIP has to be seen for what it really is: a cynical attempt by Democrats (and a few Republicans who should be ashamed) to use “the children” to institute socialized medicine in this country.

Once the camel gets his nose under the tent …

Mark Parker