Democrats are pushing for as much as $50 billion in additional funding in the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007, which is being debated in the Senate this week. Their propaganda machine has been working overtime, claiming the expansion of SCHIP is necessary to ensure the world’s wealthiest nation properly protects its children.

“The richest country on the face of the earth should not have children who cannot access health care because they don’t have insurance and they can’t afford the cost,” said Democratic House Leader Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland.

“No child in our nation should ever go without health care,” said Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, the Democratic Caucus Chairman. “Now, this Congress has the chance to make a down payment on this goal. But one man is standing in the way: President Bush.”

“It is unconscionable that this President would veto a bill that expands and improves coverage for kids”, said Democratic Senator and Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton.

The Democratic solution to the “crisis of uninsured children” is identical to their solution to every other economic problem our nation has faced for the last 50 years, raise entitlements. Ignoring Presidents Bush’s request for an additional $5 Billion in funding, Congress is attempting to push through an expansion of the program which could add up to as much as $50 Billion over the next 5 years.

The expanded program would cover children in families with incomes of up to $83,000, and is expected to add an additional 3 million children to the 6 million children already covered under the plan. Operating under the “pay as you go” system the Democrats have declared the funding for SCHIP’s expansion can be done by increasing the tax on cigarettes by 61 cents a pack. By doing this, Democrats anticipate a $27 Billion increase in revenue.

This number is alarmingly short cited and reveals the carelessness of our lawmakers in matters of fiscal responsibility. Over the last 20 years America has seen its number of smokers declining year over year, with sharp drops immediately following tax increases. In New York City the amount of smokers declined by 11% from 2002 to 2003 immediately following an increase in the cigarette tax. If that number were to hold true nationwide following the Democrats plan to fund SCHIP through an increase in taxes on cigarettes, it would be easy to assume a huge budget shortfall by 2012 if not sooner.

This in part is what is causing an uproar from conservatives, along with a veto threat from President Bush. What truly has drawn the ire of conservatives however is not the increased budget deficits this bill will undoubtedly cause, but who the program will now cover.

This bill would make it easier for illegal aliens to get government-funded health care. It eliminates a requirement that legal aliens must be in the country five years before getting benefits and also makes it optional for states to check whether a recipient is in the country legally.

“Again, the Democrats have proven their loyalty to illegal aliens over American citizens,” said Rep. Tom Tancredo, Colorado Republican.

The argument behind allowing the children of illegal’s access to government funded health care is that we should not penalize children for the actions of the parents. Unfortunately it is this type of logic that convinces millions of people to cross our borders illegally, knowing that once inside the United States their children will receive certain entitlements.

The idea of doing something “for the children” makes people feel good inside, and Democrats will paint George Bush as a monster if and when this bill eventually comes across his desk for a veto. The truth is though, those children we help today will become the adults of tomorrow who will be given an ever increasing burden of not only providing for their own family, but the families of others across the country.

It is estimated that by the year 2020, our countries entitlement programs will be a whopping 75% of the GDP. If the Democrats truly wish to do something for the children, they should work to reduce expenditures so our children do not inherit a country bankrupted by entitlement programs.

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Congress, Politics, Taxes