The Beacon and I are trading posts about Dean Heller’s “no” vote on the SCHIP reauthorization bill. One thing that really chaps my ass when talking about a government program like SCHIP is how Republicans and the President continue to mis-characterize it as an effort to federalize health care when the free market could do oh so much better. Wrong (pretend you hear a game show buzzer)! The SCHIP program makes more money available for PRIVATE health care and insurance companies to treat poor children. As Sebastion Mallaby noted in his WAPO column last week, the SCHIP program is government financed, not government run. It is in no way a federalization of health care–in fact–its the kind of bill legislators who believe in partnerships between the federal and state governments and private enterprise should be able to get behind. The only logical conclusion is that Heller doesn’t understand the difference between a government financed program and a government run program.Heller’s constituents need to put as much pressure on him as possible now that Bush has vetoed the bill despite its broad bipartisan congressional support. To override the president’s veto, 15 congressman need to change their vote. Will Heller continue to be proud of his flawed vote to support not only a remarkable bipartisan effort (rare during this administration), but also a bill that would give private health care and insurance companies the opportunity to treat more poor children? I guess we’ll find out but he’s kind of spoken himself into a corner hasn’t he? Let the shaming begin!
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C’mon, Myrna. You really think Heller has a conscience or can be shamed?
What’s the point of us writing when the NSDP won’t even call his hand? Go to their website and you’ll see they haven’t posted anything against Heller since before July 4 http://www.nvdems.com/news.php?newsid=837.
Looks like Derby and her crony neighbors are going to just let him keep up with the lies and deceptions. So look for him to waltz into another term since the state Dems won’t even take him on and call him for what he is.
They also have the caucus to plan. I heard congressmen say over and over and over that calling and writing works better than anything else. Heller and his fifteen are getting pressured from all sides. And yes, I think almost anyone has a conscience and can be shamed if its done right.
Without taking a position on this SCHIP debate (I’m still reading up on what the heck it is), there is an interesting column by the SF Chron’s Debra Saunders re: the funding method.
Again … not endorsing her position, just thought it was an interesting commentary.
Also, maybe Heller is against it not because of the “federalizing” healthcare red herring (I do agree that is a red herring) … maybe he’s just against federal funding — this seems like a reasonable position, even if you don’t agree with it.
Thanks for the link. I agree that lawmakers should be honest and upfront when writing legislation that will cost money. People will agree to pay for things that they feel are worth it. The SCHIP bill is an example of such legislation.
Heller says he’s against “pork” so it all depends on how you define pork. He seems plenty happy to subsidize industry (Vote 40: H R 6) and the pharmaceutical industry (Vote 23: H R 4) for instance. I consider that pork. Holy crap–about the biggest pork bills out there have to do with homeland security and he’s been all over those bills.
There is a new ABC poll out asking whether or not those polled favor or oppose the expansion of SCHIP. 72% favor it!
C’mon, Myrna. You really think Heller has a conscience or can be shamed?
What’s the point of us writing when the NSDP won’t even call his hand? Go to their website and you’ll see they haven’t posted anything against Heller since before July 4 http://www.nvdems.com/news.php?newsid=837.
Looks like Derby and her crony neighbors are going to just let him keep up with the lies and deceptions. So look for him to waltz into another term since the state Dems won’t even take him on and call him for what he is.
They also have the caucus to plan. I heard congressmen say over and over and over that calling and writing works better than anything else. Heller and his fifteen are getting pressured from all sides. And yes, I think almost anyone has a conscience and can be shamed if its done right.
Without taking a position on this SCHIP debate (I’m still reading up on what the heck it is), there is an interesting column by the SF Chron’s Debra Saunders re: the funding method.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/10/04/EDRDSJ5FB.DTL
Again … not endorsing her position, just thought it was an interesting commentary.
Also, maybe Heller is against it not because of the “federalizing” healthcare red herring (I do agree that is a red herring) … maybe he’s just against federal funding — this seems like a reasonable position, even if you don’t agree with it.
Thanks for the link. I agree that lawmakers should be honest and upfront when writing legislation that will cost money. People will agree to pay for things that they feel are worth it. The SCHIP bill is an example of such legislation.
Heller says he’s against “pork” so it all depends on how you define pork. He seems plenty happy to subsidize industry (Vote 40: H R 6) and the pharmaceutical industry (Vote 23: H R 4) for instance. I consider that pork. Holy crap–about the biggest pork bills out there have to do with homeland security and he’s been all over those bills.