Rockefeller vows to fight likely Bush veto on CHIP

2007-09-29

Source: Beckley Register Herald

Even if President Bush carries out a threatened veto, Sen. Jay Rockefeller says he is determined to keep sending the Children's Health Insurance Program reauthorization bill back to the White House as many times as it takes.

Senators gave final approval to the bill Thursday night, but Bush has vowed to kill it on grounds that it is too costly and moves too many families who could purchase private insurance into the program. Bush is expected to act on the bill Monday.

"The reality is that CHIP is the most cost-effective, public-private health insurance program ever," Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said Friday.

"The president is squarely on the wrong side of the issue. I'm prepared to keep sending this bill back to him again and again until he finally does the right thing for our children."

Almost 39,000 children in West Virginia were covered last year through CHIP.

Rockefeller's bill would provide the state program $45 million to allow a planned expansion by Gov. Joe Manchin. Moreover, the proposal would let the state keep an extra $22 million in federal dollars now available that otherwise would have been returned to Washington. Under this provision, the senator pointed out, another 4,000 children in West Virginia could fall under the CHIP umbrella over the next few years.

By a 69-30 tally, the Senate agreed to fund CHIP over a five-year span with $35 billion, covering 6.6 million children already enrolled and allowing states room to bring in several million more. The bill calls for money invested in outreach efforts so West Virginia can locate and enroll children eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, but who aren't now insured.

Incentive bonuses are included for West Virginia to bring more children into the program.

"I strongly support CHIP because it has a proven track record of delivering results for West Virginia's children," Sen. Robert C. Byrd, also D-W.Va., said after the vote.

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