The Truth about S-CHIP

Congrats are due to Marilyn Musgrave, Doug Lamborn and Tom Tancredo for their opposition to the ridiculous S-CHIP legislation.

The Liberal Left has so distorted the facts, that I thought a brief reminder of what S-CHIP really is, would be in order.

Here is some of the analysis done by Republican Study Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling:

H.R. 976 reauthorizes and significantly expands the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), while increasing cigarette taxes to supposedly offset the bill’s costs. The legislation follows closely the Senate-passed version of SCHIP reauthorization, expanding the program but discarding much of the Medicare-related provisions included in the House-passed legislation. Highlights of the bill are as follows:

Cost: H.R. 976 provides $34.9 billion over five years and $71.5 billion over ten years in new mandatory spending—this spending is on top of the $25 billion over five years that would result from a straight extension of the program. The House-passed version provided $47.4 billion over five years and $128.7 billion in new SCHIP spending (as well as billions of non-SCHIP spending).

The new spending is partially offset by increasing taxes on tobacco products (see below). However, this CBO score overlooks a major gimmick which the bill employs to lower its costs. The bill dramatically lowers the SCHIP funding in the fifth year by 80%, from $14.25 billion in the first six months to $1.75 billion. In all likelihood, such a reduction would not actually take effect, which would make this an effort to generate unrealistic savings in order to comply with PAYGO rules. To that end, H.R. 976 is technically compliant with PAYGO.

Some of the worst parts of S-CHIP include:

Encourages Spending: H.R. 976 shortens from three to two years the amount of time a state has to spend its annual SCHIP allotment. Under current law, states are given three years to spend each year’s original allotment, and at the end of the three-year period, any unused funds are redistributed to states that have exhausted their allotment or created a “shortfall,” i.e. making commitments beyond the funding it has available. In addition, the bill establishes a process through which any unspent funds would be redistributed to any states with a shortfall. Some conservatives may be concerned that this process provides incentives both for states to spend their allotment quickly and to extend their programs beyond their regular allotments into shortfall, so as to be relieved by the unspent funds of other states or the new Contingency Fund (see above).

Expansion to Higher Incomes: Under current law, states can cover families earning up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or $41,300 for a family of four in 2007 or those at 50% above Medicaid eligibility. However, states have been able to “disregard” income with regard to eligibility for the program, meaning they can purposefully ignore various types of income in an effort to expand eligibility. For instance, New Jersey covers up to 350% of FPL by disregarding any income from 200-350%, allowing them to cover beyond 200% with the enhanced federal matching funds that SCHIP provides.

As of 2010, H.R. 976 increases the eligibility limit to 300% of FPL or $61,950 for a family of four but also continues the current authority for states to define and disregard income. States which extend coverage beyond 300% of FPL would receive the lower Medicaid match rate. The bill also grandfathers states with an approved state plan amendment (or a state about to submit such an amendment in compliance with state law) that already covers those above 300% of poverty. This provision is for New Jersey and New York (seeking to cover 400% of FPL or $82,600 for a family of four). In addition, Section 116 of the bill overturns CMS’ current policy of requiring states to ensure that 95% of the eligible children in their state below 250% of FPL are enrolled before expanding coverage to higher incomes.

Adult Coverage: Under current law, some states cover nonpregnant, childless adults—these states have received waivers in the past in an effort to expand health insurance to uninsured populations, even though the program was intended for children. H.R. 976 would prohibit any further waivers but would provide continued funding for existing coverage of such adults through FY 2008. Beginning in FY 2009, funding for nonpregnant childless adults will be capped at FY 2008 levels, but states would receive the lower Medicaid match and be limited to only covering those already enrolled.

Additionally, the bill also weakens current law regarding illegal aliens recieving S-CHIP monies, increases taxes and penalizes those with private insurance.

The bottom line is simple: the bill would expand the SCHIP program by $35 billion over five years and loosen the program’s eligibility requirements while astronomically expanding the big-government welfare state.

Coffman, Tonner and CO-6

Several well placed Republican sources have confirmed that Secretary of State Mike Coffman has been meeting with Flat-Line's (Phaseline) Sean Tonner about running for Tom Tancredo's CO-6 House seat. At least two meetings have taken place in the last three weeks.

Does this indicate that Coffman has inside information into Tancredo's plans for 2008?

Does Tanc's strong finish in the Iowa Straw Poll breath new life into his Presidential run?

What isn't clear is whether or not Coffman will primary Tancredo. A Coffman run for CO-6 is sure to anger both the Republican party establishment, as well as conservatives.

Republicans want to keep the Secretary of State seat, which if Coffman won CO-6, would be appointed by Governor Ritter.

Conservatives believe that Senator Ted Harvey or Wil Armstrong would be far better conservative ambassadors in Congress.

Harvey for Congress???

From Colorado Confidential: (Yes, I do read them on occasion)

HARVEY SOUNDS PREPARED TO RUN…IF TANCREDO DOESN’T

Tom Tancredo isn’t raising a ton of cash (comparatively, at least) in his bid for the Presidency, but that hasn’t stopped many Republicans in his congressional district from dreaming of moving up. Tancredo has said he won’t rule out running for re-election in 2008, but from what I’ve heard, a good number of Republicans aren’t anticipating that he will stay for another term.

State Sen. Ted Harvey would be among a handful of elephants at the top of the list to run in CD-6 should Tancredo not return, but he isn’t looking ahead just yet.

"It’s fair to say I would take a good look at it if Tom would take a move, but I’m not sure where he is in his decision making process right now," says Harvey. "So far he’s been putting out the message that he hasn’t made a decision."

Harvey says that he is in "an awkward position" in looking ahead to 2008 because he considers Tancredo to be a close friend (they worked together at the Independence Institute before Tancredo was elected to congress in 1988). Harvey says that he would absolutely not run against Tancredo – who he supported in 1998 - in a primary, but if he doesn’t return for another run, it sounds like Harvey wouldn’t take long to enter the race.

"I’ve got young kids, so my family has to be totally behind it," he says. "But I’m pretty confident that we would do it."

Contrary to some rumors, Harvey says that he hasn’t begun to put together a campaign team - "I haven’t hired anybody. Like I said, I’m not that far along until Tom makes a decision" - but he has already thought about why he would be a strong candidate.

"I’ve been an elected official in the heart of the congressional district for six years," says Harvey. "Douglas County has a big portion of the district, and I represent two-thirds of Douglas County."

If CD-6 does open up next year, all signs point to a difficult primary battle for a seat in which voter registration numbers favor Republicans by a 2-to-1 margin. State Sen. Tom Wiens, whom Harvey says has been the most active in looking at the race, will almost certainly run, as might a host of others including Wil Armstrong, Rep. David Balmer, former state Sen. John Andrews, former Lt. Governor Jane Norton and Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer.

"There’s a book called the White Pages, and I think there’s a lot of people in that book who would take a look at it," jokes Harvey. "Every elected official in the district would take a look at it.

"Opportunities like this come along once every decade or two."

Or maybe they don’t. Right now, only Tom Tancredo knows for sure.

Might I say, "Well done Senator Harvey!"

This piece is fairly well written, and pretty fair; especially coming from this liberal shill group.

Tanc: I'm In

This morning Congressman Tom "Tanc" Tancredo (CO-6) formally announced his campaign to run for President. Tanc has been testing the waters over the last several months with an exploratory committee, today's announcement puts Tanc firmly officially in the process.

Speculation is still strong that regardless of the outcome of his dark-horse Presidential campaign, Tanc will still give up his house seat.

Tanc Ramps up

Congressman Tom Tancredo's (CO-6) dark-horse presidential campaign has hired long time ally Bay Buchanan to run his Presidential primary campaigns in Iowa and New Hampshire.

From the Denver Post:

"I'm not saying this is going to be easy," Buchanan said about Tancredo's presidential prospects in a late-1995 interview with The Denver Post, as Tancredo debated whether to run for president. "I think there's a chance. My job is to convince Tom there's a chance."

Buchanan is chairwoman of Team America, the political action committee Tancredo founded. It raises money for candidates who shared Tancredo's hardliner views on immigration and the border.

"She has been a valuable advisor and close friend for a long time and will be an invaluable asset to my campaign," Tancredo said. [Emphasis added]

Tanc 4 Prez

It's no secret that Congressman Tom "Tanc" Tancredo (CO-6) has been talking about not running for congress again, to pursue his dark-horse Presidential campaign. That talk has escalated in the last several days with the announcement that Tanc's Presidential exploratory commitee has raised over $1 million in the last quarter.

The Denver Post has a profile of some of the possible candidates to replace Tanc in CO-6. Among the front line contenders are State Senator Ted Harvey (R-Highlands Ranch) Senator Tom Wiens (R- Castle Rock) and Wil Armstrong (Son of Conservative hero, Senator Bill Armstrong).

There are sure to be a number of second and third tier candidates, possibly including State Senator Steve Ward (R- Centennial).

Harvey and Armstrong will certainly be battling it out over the position of most conservative candidate.

Harvey has the record of a conservative hero; staunchly pro-life, a sponsor of right-to-work legislation every year he's been in office, and one of the leaders on on gun rights.

While Armstrong has the pedigree and is certainly a front line conservative, he has never cast a recorded vote.

Wiens tacks a more middle of the road course, he is a George W. Bush style of Republican.

It will be interesting to see how these elements of the race play out.

Wednesday's Warrior: Tom Tancredo

When talking to Republican activists in Colorado the one name that comes up more than any others as Colorado’s favorite son is Tom Tancredo.

When history is written years from now it is hard to imagine a political figure that will have affected the immigration reform movement as much as Congressman Tom Tancredo. Tom Tancredo came into the spotlight of American politics when the American people needed him most. After being alone in the woods on the issue of immigration for a considerably long time, Tom is now joined by a throng of supporters and admirers who share his vision of immigration reform.

It is because of one mans effort that a single issue has the national political prominence that it does now. For that reason the Colorado Conservative Project is pleased to announce that Congressman Tancredo is this weeks Wednesday Warrior. Congressman Tancredo we salute you.

Click here for the Tancredo For President Blog and get blogging about Tom!

(Editors Note: In recognition of Congressman Tancredo as well as a shot across the bow of his communist neighbor in D.C., CCP suggests you send Tom a cigar to show him your appreciation. You can send your stogie to his district office listed below)
Congressman Tancredo
6099 S. Quebec St. Suite 200
Centennnial, CO 80111