You say I ignore the problems with the program. I would suggest you ignore the incredible success and popularity of the program that has been clearly and unambiguously expressed by those closer to it than you or I.
In any case, we can continue the discussion after Bush signs a bill that is more than his $5 billion and less than the Congressional $35 billion.
"If putting poor children first takes a little more than the 20% increase I have proposed in my budget for SCHIP, I am willing to work with leaders in Congress to find the additional money," Bush said in his weekly radio address.
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Originally Posted by Rekna
I don't see whats wrong with the tobacco tax. It helps health care 2 ways. First it generates money for the SCHIP program, second it could potentially lower the number of smokers in the future lowering health care costs. Of course eventually if people stop smoking a different tax would have to be implemented. Hell I think we should legalize pot and tax it fairly high.
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An interesting article in the NY TImes from 1997 that describes how the odd couple of Ted Kennedy and Orin Hatch, pushed through the idea of tobacco tax to fund the first SCHIP.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...5BC0A961958260