Sean Krupa – 10/7/07

This page was last updated on October 15, 2007.

Bush’s SCHIP veto deplorable; Sean Krupa; Beaver County Times; October 7, 2007.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“The president’s latest decision to veto the expansion of the SCHIP program should go down in history as one of the more deplorable decisions in his presidency, despite having a magnitude to choose from.”

[RWC] Hmm, if there are so many “deplorable decisions,” why didn’t Mr. Krupa enlighten us with a few? I’ll help Mr. Krupa out. McCain/Feingold campaign finance “reform,” the No Child Left Behind Act, and the Medicare prescription drug plan are a few that come to mind. I’m sure that’s what Mr. Krupa meant. <g>

“What does it say when our ‘Christian’ president denies health-care coverage to children of families who cannot afford it?”

[RWC] Below is what I wrote in a comment I posted on the Times website in response to a similar letter.

“Why does Ms. Delanko apparently believe its OK for parents to dump their childrearing responsibilities on their neighbors?

“I’m sure it was an honest oversight, but Ms. Delanko neglected to mention President Bush is fine with reauthorizing the current SCHIP program. The current program helps with healthcare for children of the poor not poor enough (up to 200% of the federal poverty level and allows states not to count certain income) to qualify for Medicaid. Incredibly, SCHIP also covers some parents. What Mr. Bush opposes is expanding the program beyond the poor and increasing the max age for covered children beyond the current 18. The current House version would triple federal SCHIP spending to $15 billion/year and the Senate version would increase it to 2.4 times the current level.

“At one point the proposal included families of four making more than $80,000/year and increased the max age for covered children to 25. Make no mistake about it; the proposed SCHIP expansion has nothing to do with “the children” as proponents would have us believe. It’s all about gradually implementing a taxpayer-funded, government-run healthcare system for the U.S.

“While I believe President Bush should veto the SCHIP expansion, I’m disappointed in him – and all elected Republicans – for not letting the SCHIP program expire on schedule.

“Do I believe people who need help because of unforeseen circumstances should get it? Of course, but via private charities funded by voluntary contributions.”

“Before I get accused of a gross generalization, it is not as simple as providing health care for poor children. The issue of socialized health care and raising taxes on cigarettes is also included and, accordingly, the president provided us with a classic substance-free justification for his veto.”

[RWC] At least Mr. Krupa concedes it’s not about providing healthcare insurance for poor kids; it’s about “socialized health care.”

“How stupid we must be to think that the families affected would choose government-run health care over no health care, and even more hilarious is that fact that the tobacco industry, which is second only to the fast-food industry in driving up the cost of health care, gets a scratch of the back once more.

“Hopefully, the men and women of the House of Representatives have the integrity and moral fabric to override the veto when the chance comes, especially since bipartisan legislature [sic] is so rare these days.

[RWC] Ah, support Mr. Krupa’s position or you lack “integrity and moral fabric.”

“I wonder exactly how many days are left until we are no longer represented by a man that would rather slide big business a carte blanche then do something to actually help the people of this country.”

[RWC] When did it become the duty of the president to “help the people of this country?”