SCHIP PASSES! The Children are Saved!!

SCHIP (State Childrens Health Insurance Plan) was expanded by Mr. O yesterday, saving another 4 million children! Look at the kindly leader of our state holding the patriotic young lad! Look how happy the child is to have the great leader holding him!

This concept is flawed in so many ways, but here are two key points:

1. It expands the eligibility of "free" health insurance for kids to families making up to $88,000 per year.

2. It's paid for by increasing the tax on cigarettes to $1.00 per pack from $.39.

On the first point, the "poverty level" in the United States is defined as $21,200 for a family of four. So at $88K you still should not be responsible to pay for your kid's healthcare?

Second...years ago I worked for the EVIL tobacco company, RJR. When you looked over our sales trends, you want to know what the numero uno deterrent to smoking was? Higher taxes. Yup, nothing dropped our sales like increasing the tax on cigarrettes. Ban the advertising? Fine, we pocketed the profit with almost no change in volume. No more print? We're cool with that - pocket the profit. Raise the taxes? OUCH! People quit smoking! Heritage Foundation estimates it will take 22,000,000 NEW smokers to pay for this bill.

Now the smartie mcsmartiespants comgressmen know this, so why pass this bill? Do they want more people to DIE of cancer? No, it's pretty obvious - they want more people being dependent on the government. Wake up folks, this is socialized medicine bit by tiny bit.