Kerry proposes health coverage for all children

[papau]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/01/26/kerry_proposes_health_coverage_for_all_children/

Kerry proposes health coverage for all children
By Rick Klein, Globe Staff | January 26, 2005

WASHINGTON -- Vowing to use his new ''national voice" in the wake of his presidential campaign, Senator John F. Kerry yesterday unveiled a sweeping plan to bring health coverage to all children, paid for by repealing recent tax cuts for the highest-income Americans.

Kerry's bill would make healthcare for children universal by encouraging states to expand coverage under Medicaid and its companion state-federal program, the State Children's Health Insurance Program. He would also give higher-income parents tax incentives to insure their own children.

''It's just unacceptable in our country that we have so many children -- millions of kids -- who are uninsured, they get no healthcare, some of them get learning disabilities for the lack of diagnosis of something as simple as an earache," Kerry said in an interview with the Globe. ''This has to be priority number one. It's a place to start."

Kerry said the bill fulfills a pledge he made on the campaign trail, where he vowed to make such legislation the first bill he'd file as president. He has signed up 300,000 ''citizen cosponsors," recruited via his campaign e-mail list. Kerry said he is planning to ''gin up energy" for his bill through speeches around the country.<snip>

Kerry said the increased federal aid would save states $10 billion annually, and predicted that all state governments would jump on board for the savings, providing coverage to 11 million children who are now uninsured. The expanded coverage would be paid for by rolling back the recent income tax cuts for those who make more than $350,000 a year, to pay for the bill's estimated cost of $22 billion per year.<snip>

[GetTheRightVote]

1. I support him in this action

:kick:

[blm]

2. Beautiful, Senator Kerry. Those making over 350,000 yr. want to complain

about chipping in for healthcare for all children?

[cdb]

3. insuring all children

is a socialist commie act. If kids can't get adequate healthcare, let 'em die. That's capitalism in a true democracy. We can't have the "nanny government" taking care of our children. Our tax dollars need to be used for more important things like weapons.

...ooops, wrong forum

[bemildred]

4. How about health care for everybody?

I mean Kerry deserves an attaboy for this, but why be cheap about
health care when we have 400 billion to go destroy Iraq? What are
our priorities anyway?

[murray hill farm]

5. I agree..

but i am so happy to see john kerry going after this....but yeah..what could we do in this country if we put a billion a day into caring for our own?

[lavenderdiva]

6. I agree, but do you think this could be a first step toward that goal?

I think the American public would have a hard time wrapping their mind around nationalized healthcare for all. But if this got passed, getting the total package would be easier to pass next go round. Maybe?

[papau]

7. I agree - and I hope all Dems back this.

:-)

[bemildred]

8. Just getting the argument out there ...

Not dissing anybody.

[lavenderdiva]

9. I hope you didn't think I was taking offense at your comment,

far from it! I wholeheartedly agree with you, and hope that all come around to your way of thought... I apologize if my comments were misconstrued... :hi:

[bemildred]

10. Nope, just trying to be clear.

:hi:

[eridani]

13. Maybe

Kids, statistically, are the least likely demographic to actually get sick. Like employed adults--it's why private insurance might not mind covering them. In the long run, though, it may be just another way to tell the poorest and sickest to fuck off and die.

[Lefty48197]

11. Way to go Kerry!

Let's cover the expectant mothers too:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=222x130

[DrGonzoLives]

12. I'm glad he's doing this

I don't see much chance of it passing, since Bush is dedicated to eliminating Medicaid so that more poor people die, but it is a good fight to take up.