SCHIP Bill Passes House: First Step in Expanding Health Insurance for Kids

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First of all, it clearly states income requirements above. They still have to be under 200% of the federal poverty limit in most states (for my state, it happens to be 300%). The income guidelines haven't changed, only the length of residency required. Second, this bill is for children only. We cannot have our children without proper health insurance. It is not the child's fault that they are immigrants. I work in a Community Health Center where we provide medical care to those who can't afford insurance and/or are homeless. I have seen too many sick children with parents who are deathly afraid that their children will be outcasted because of their status and not be able to receive proper care. The only way we are able to stay in business is because of the state's health insurance payments, which this bill would support. Stop taking it personal. The children are not out to get YOUR tax money!

Lynnette of HI 12:28PM February 11, 2009

When our government uses DISCRIMINATION to impose tax on a health hazard of Tobacco only this is criminal. Consider soda drinks, sugar foods, MSG additives, nitrate additives, and peanut butter which all cause illness. I believe automobile tires, gas, & gas additives are the most toxic and do cause serious illness and death.

Diane Daugherty of CA 5:09PM February 10, 2009

In my opinion this bill is what this country needs. We need to look out for our kids. And yes, I think that it should be OK to allow illegal and newly immigrated immigrants to access these benefits, and please allow me to explain why... These children are going to turn up in our daycare in the same class room with our kids. And who knows what background they are coming from. These children are the most innocent persons in the world, and they disserve to be healthy. They cannot choose their parents, or their origin of country, and how their parents choose to live. Either way we need to give them a chance for a healthy living... We shouldn't forget that this bill is about our children's health in the first place... and not "Bob's job in a market" ... Everyone is responsible for their own lives, and Obama is not going to be responsible if "Bill fires Bob because of this bill" that is ridicules....

Trix of FL 10:13AM February 09, 2009

I live in in.and when our state past a new tabacco tax, many people started to roll there own cig. This bill will make it almost as much to roll your own as to buy the big named product.This will in fact hurt the lower and middle class people who are just trying to save money and injoy a habit that most of us have had for years. You are offering no help for us to stop. The tubes to roll your own cost two dollars and the new tax on them could be as much as 24.00 for two hundred. That in itshelf is CRAZY. I personally think that this is just more money tax and helping the big tabacco companys.The big guy always wins! If they do it to tabacco they will do it to everything.When is the people of this country going to start making the goverment work for the little guy and not for temselves or the big guys.

Carrie Romanchok of IN 11:39AM February 08, 2009

Our healthcare costs would be 25% lower if we didn't have to support illegal immigrants, if people would make at least a $25 per month payment on their medical bills rather than let it go to collections, if the parent would stop taking their child to the doctor for every tiny sniffle, if hypochondriacs would stop going to the doctor for no reason..... and I could go on and on about the reasons health care is so expensive to begin with. Those mentioned above would lower the cost of health care by about $500 million per year.

J from Upstate of NY 6:44PM February 04, 2009

Your losing your job and I already lost my job and hey I smoke! I just lost my insurance for my son from the STATE and WHY? Because I made 12.00 too much? And why? Because my oldest son turned 18 and now they dont consider him part of our family size even though he still lives with us! So With the loss of my job and the loss of my sons insurance I get to pay for it all by having my cigarettes taxed more! But you dont see Alcohol being taxed! No they promote the sleezey bars on every street corner thinking people are flying home on their broomsticks while the drunks are out killing innocent people out on the streets! How many politicians are alcoholics is what I want to know? This whole thing is Bogus!

Diana Heitzmann of TX 6:03PM February 04, 2009

I might not be for this bill. But I can care less what kind of taxes are put on tobacco. This bill probably wont work and I feared that a bill like this was going to be passed, but stop whining smokers it's a nasty, stinky bad habit. So buck up. a lot of people wont care if it hits you in the pocket book,If you dont like it try to STOP SMOKING. Your bad habit doesn't only effect you.I bet your car and house stinks too. I can always tell which kids come from a smoking family. find another reason to complain about this bill. This one doesnt stand

california girl who hates this bill and smoking of CA 5:35PM February 04, 2009

Thanks for nothing..I WILL NOW BE UNEMPLOYED..
And now talk of the FDA regulating the tobacco..How in the HELL will $$$ be generated then..This is CRAZY!!!

Rick of IN 5:35PM February 04, 2009

This bill should not be passed especially for people who are not citizens. The illegals get enough of our money and send it back to their own country. That's our government's fault we are spending to much money for them to come over here have babies and then us keep on paying for them what about our own here in America our own people. Our kids need health Insurance. We go to the hospital we get a bill and illegals use our hospitals as a free clinic. This needs to be stopped I do not want this bill to pass. And another thing why isn't this getting news coverage. I think the people should start speaking out and get the illegals to stop using our taxpayers money and using it for themselves. What has happened to this world. Maybe we all should move to Mexico and demand money from their Country Im sure we wouldn't get it there. I think business owners should be taking taxes from illegals anyways you work in this country you pay for this country just like we do. I think I should run for presidency in 4 years and we will get things done.

Heather Covington of FL 4:26PM February 04, 2009

Didn't President Obama just allocate tax money to assist in out of country abortion rights?? Kill'em before you have to save'em? I can quit smoking but I don't want to. You won't like me for a few days, but it's a tax I dont "have" to pay. I really do hate this bill, not only is it not fair to the american tax payer, or to recipients, or smokers, but in my country's stand to save some and kill others...pay for illegals with the starving recessionary american pocket book. Yep, change is good! By the way, when smoking becomes a thing of the past and all the anti-smoking Americans have been satisfied, look out candy, donut, pizza, and fast food eaters. Watch the daily news even now as the politicians spin on the new Obese-America crisis. It will be you next. Then, coffee, etc. I'm sure there can be many "sins" still taxable when this bill fails by it's own greed.

wes of TN 11:38AM February 04, 2009