Democratic Party Chairman calls on Republicans to reject threatened veto, stand up for Idaho families

BOISE, Idaho – State Democratic Party Chairman Richard Stallings today is calling on Idaho’s Republican congressional delegation to stand up to President Bush and join Democrats to renew the State Children's Health Insurance Program; providing health insurance for 18,100 Idaho children who currently have no health insurance.

The Childrens’ Health Insurance Plan (“CHIP”) currently provides health care coverage to more than 6 million children nationwide. The new bill would make coverage available to another 3.8 million children in need.

The idea came from Democratic leaders and was ushered through some of the Republican ranks by Utah Sen. Orin Hatch.  But now, President Bush has threatened to veto the legislation – and three out of four of Idaho’s Republican congressman are planning to support their party leader and deny these children the vital health care they need.  

About 24,700 Idaho children are enrolled in Idaho’s CHIP program this year, allowing them to lead healthy and productive lives. Passage of this bill could increase the number of covered children to 42,800. But President Bush's veto now threatens to deny their health care coverage.

"Our children should not go one day without health care, let alone one year," said Idaho Democratic Party Chairman Richard Stallings. "Democrats are standing up for America's families, working tirelessly in Congress to renew and improve this critical program. Yet President Bush continues to say he will turn his back on America's children by vetoing this program.”

Rep. Mike Simpson, Idaho’s Republican congressman from eastern Idaho, voted to pass the final version. Stallings said Simpson should try to convince his fellow Republicans – Rep. Bill Sali, Sen. Mike Crapo and Sen. Larry Craig -- to have the courage to stand up against Bush and do the right thing by Idaho’s families.

“These three congressmen from Idaho aren’t representing Idaho’s families – they’re just trying to appease the most unpopular president in American history,” Stallings said. “I hope they will have the human decency to rise above the partisanship and protect Idaho families. Our children are counting on them.”

NEWS BACKGROUNDER

The CHAMP Act provides $50 billion in new funding for children’s health insurance coverage through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid. Two out of every three uninsured children in the United States are eligible for coverage through these two programs but are not insured. Overall the CHAMP Act will provide 5 million additional children with health insurance coverage across the United States. Children in the State of Idaho stand to benefit tremendously from the CHAMP Act.

The CHAMP Act also improves Medicare for 44 million seniors and people with disabilities.  This bill protects Medicare physicians from an impending 10% payment decrease while adding new preventive benefits, increasing assistance for low-income beneficiaries, and reducing unnecessary subsidies to Medicare private plans. 

• The coverage of 24,700 children enrolled in Idaho’s CHIP program will be secured.*

• The CHAMP Act provides essential funding for the State to reach the 28,200 children in families with incomes under 200% FPL who remain uninsured. 

• More than 48,600 Medicare beneficiaries, including seniors and people with disabilities, with incomes under 150% of the poverty level will be helped by improvements in the Medicare Savings Program and Low Income Subsidy Program. A substantial number of seniors will receive an additional $1,200 annually from assistance with the cost of their Medicare Part B Premium.

• More than 20,800 of the poorest Medicare beneficiaries in Idaho will be protected with limits on out of pocket costs for prescription drugs, including those in home and community care settings.

• The 13,700 Idaho seniors receiving Part D assistance will benefit from simplified applications and automatic renewal of eligibility – helping ensure they do not lose essential assistance due to red tape and bureaucracy.

• Taxpayers in Idaho will benefit from elimination of overpayments to private plans in Medicare. The overpayments in Idaho amount to $46 million for FY07 alone.

*Number of children who depend on CHIP throughout the year.