Obama signs healthcare bill
A day after he had to jettison the person he hoped would be the architect of a healthcare overhaul, President Obama this afternoon will get to claim a smaller victory.
He signed into law a bill, given final approval by the House today, to extend subsidized coverage to 4 million more children across the country. The bill on the State Children's Health Insurance Program costs nearly $33 billion and covers children whose parents earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but find it expensive to buy private insurance.
"This is good, this is good," Obama began, as supporters applauded and cheered.
With the bill, "We fulfill one of the highest responsibilities that we have -- to ensure the health and well-being of the nation's children," he said, First Lady Michelle Obama by his side.
But Obama also noted the reality that 8 million children lack health insurance, among an estimated 47 million Americans without health insurance, according to the Census Bureau, about 16 percent of the population..
"This is only the first step," he said, calling it a downpayment on his commitment for universal healthcare coverage.
And, like an event during his campaign, he introduced a "real family" to illustrate the issue, vowing that he will refuse to accept" that some children do not get the basic help they need to reach their full potential.
He also noted that the legislation lifts the ban on states allowing the children of immigrants to enroll in the program, eliciting another big cheer from the invited audience.
Tom Daschle, who was nominated for health and human services secretary and for a new White House office of healthcare reform, withdrew his nomination on Tuesday over tax troubles.
Senator John F. Kerry praised the final passage of the bill, noting that the program covers nearly 100,000 children in Massachusetts.
“It’s about time we take care of our most vulnerable children. We’ve waited far too long for this day,” Kerry said in a statement. “America’s kids should be guaranteed comprehensive care whether they need dental care, mental health, medical or surgical treatment.”
The legislation also includes parity for mental health services under the program. “It’s about time we take care of our most vulnerable children. We’ve waited far too long for this day,” Kerry added. “America’s kids should be guaranteed comprehensive care whether they need dental care, mental health, medical or surgical treatment.”
An anti-tax group, however, argued that by signing the bill, Obama had violated a core campaign promise -- not to raise taxes on those earning less than $250,000 a year.
Americans for Tax Reform said that the tobacco tax hike that funds the expansion -- "a 156 percent increase in the federal excise tax on tobacco, a hike of 61 cents per pack" -- disproportionately hits lower income people.
Obama's full prepared remarks are below:
Today, with one of the first bills I sign – reauthorizing the Children’s Health Insurance Program – we fulfill one of the highest responsibilities we have: to ensure the health and well-being of our nation’s children.
It is a responsibility that has only grown more urgent as our economic crisis has deepened, health care costs have exploded, and millions of working families are unable to afford health insurance. Today in America, eight million children are still uninsured – more than 45 million Americans altogether.
It’s hard to overstate the toll this takes on our families: the sleepless nights worrying that someone’s going to get hurt, or praying that a sick child gets better on her own. The decisions that no parent should ever have to make – how long to put off that doctor’s appointment, whether to fill that prescription, whether to let a child play outside, knowing that all it takes is one accident, one injury, to send your family into financial ruin.
The families joining us today know these realities firsthand. When Gregory Secrest, from Martinsville, Virginia lost his job back in August, his kids lost their health care. When he broke the news to his family, his nine year-old son handed over his piggy bank with $4 in it, and told him, “Daddy, if you need it, you take it.”
This is not who we are. We are not a nation that leaves struggling families to fend for themselves. No child in America should be receiving her primary care in the emergency room in the middle of the night. No child should be falling behind at school because he can’t hear the teacher or see the blackboard. I refuse to accept that millions of our kids fail to reach their full potential because we fail to meet their basic needs. In a decent society, there are certain obligations that are not subject to tradeoffs or negotiation – health care for our children is one of those obligations.
That is why we have passed this legislation to continue coverage for seven million children, cover an additional four million children in need, and finally lift the ban on states providing insurance to legal immigrant children if they choose to do so. Since it was created more than ten years ago, the Children’s Health Insurance Program has been a lifeline for millions of kids whose parents work full time, and don’t qualify for Medicaid, but through no fault of their own don’t have – and can’t afford – private insurance. For millions of kids who fall into that gap, CHIP has provided care when they’re sick and preventative services to help them stay well. This legislation will allow us to continue and build on these successes.
But this bill is only a first step. The way I see it, providing coverage to 11 million children through CHIP is a down payment on my commitment to cover every single American. And it is just one component of a much broader effort to finally bring our health care system into the twenty-first century. That’s where the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Plan that is now before Congress comes in.
Think about this – if Congress passes this recovery plan, in just one month, we’ll have done more to modernize our health care system than we’ve done in the past decade.
We’ll be on our way to computerizing all of America’s medical records, which won’t just eliminate inefficiencies, save billions of dollars and create tens of thousands of jobs – but will save lives by reducing deadly medical errors. We’ll have made the single largest investment in prevention and wellness in history – tackling problems like smoking and obesity, and helping people live longer, healthier lives. And we’ll have extended health insurance for the unemployed, so that workers who lose their jobs don’t lose their health care too.
Now, in the past few days I’ve heard criticisms of this plan that echo the very same failed theories that helped lead us into this crisis – the notion that tax cuts alone will solve all our problems; that we can address this enormous crisis with half-steps and piecemeal measures; that we can ignore fundamental challenges like the high cost of health care and still expect our economy and our country to thrive.
I reject these theories, and so did the American people when they went to the polls in November and voted resoundingly for change. So I urge members of Congress to act without delay. No plan is perfect, and we should work to make it stronger. But let’s not make the perfect the enemy of the essential. Let’s show people all over our country who are looking for leadership in this difficult time that we are equal to the task. Let’s give America’s families the support they need to weather this crisis.
In the end, that’s really all that folks like the Secrests are looking for – the chance to work hard, and to have that hard work translate into a good life for their kids. I’m pleased to report that their story had a happy ending – it turned out that Gregory’s two sons were eligible for CHIP, and they are now fully covered, much to his relief. I think Gregory put it best when he said: “Kids look at us and think ‘they’ll take care of us.’ That is our job – to keep them safe and healthy.”
That’s what I think about when I tuck my own girls into bed each night. That is what I want for every child – and every family – in this nation. That’s why it is so important that Congress passes our recovery plan – so we can get to work rebuilding America’s health care system.
It won’t be easy – and it won’t happen all at once. But the bill I sign today is a critical first step. So I want to thank all the state and local officials, advocates and ordinary citizens across America who’ve fought so hard to pass it. I want to thank all the members of Congress who have worked so tirelessly, for so long, so that we could see this day. And I want you all to know that I am confident that if we come together, and work together, we can finally achieve what generations of Americans have fought for and fulfill the promise of health care in our time.
Thank you.
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In the past it’s been difficult for the uninsured, especially children, to receive quality ongoing and follow-up healthcare because there was no previous record of their condition or treatments. Valuable time was wasted gathering basic information, and in some cases essential health histories have been lost. The lack of continuity in treating the uninsured is one of the big problems facing our health system. This SCHIP extension will potentially insure 4 million children, making portable electronic health records more important than ever.
More discussion: www.healthcaretownhall.com
The new SCHIP legislation lifts the 5-year bar on new, legally present immigrant children, not "illegal" or undocumented immigrant children. Please make this correction in your article.
More socialsm and redistribution of wealth. Great time to shove these programs down our throats when we can't afford them.
The reporter‘s “He also noted that the legislation lifts the ban on states allowing the children of illegal immigrants to enroll in the program, eliciting another big cheer from the invited audience.“ has it wrong. The bill lifts what the New York Times reports was the 5-year ban on enrolling children of legal—not illegal— immigrants. (The error has been reported to the Globe’s City Desk.)
Why was it so important to provide this coverage to children of illegal immigrants? And why does it provide coverage for earner up to $80K ?
and this does what for middle class American workers
How much of this goes to illegal aliens?
Lord help us....while he is at it, he should mandate a cap on families accepting government assistance. Something like only two children ~ tops. Why should our tax payer money be spent on people who can't do simple math with their incomes? It won't be easy when Obama and his administration drive the value of the dollar to 20 cents. Get some restraint man.
Here I thought it was the obligation of the responsible parent(s) to see to the heath and well being of their children. Even more amazing is the current administrations oxymoronic method of financing the altruistic healthcare coverage by raising the tax on a pack of CIGARETTES by 61 cents. Oh yes, I recall, Obama and Deval Patrick are close friends so that's where raising the tax on a pack of cigarettes in Massachusetts by $1.00 to finance the "healthcare" initiative came from. Tranparent phonies one and all! I had (have) high hopes for the success of Obama but each passing day reflects what we can expect.
GO OBAMA GO!! ONE SMALL VICTORY AT A TIME.
WE ARE FAMILY, MY BROTHER, AND MY SISTER, AND ME....WE ARE FAMILY, MY BROTHER, MY SISTER, AND ME...
We're running $1 trillion deficits and this clown adds $33 billion to the tab...but hey, it's for the children.
People whine about a few pennies while the banks take hundreds of billions. A little perspective, please.
Sick people in our streets and classrooms are a danger to us all. Everyone needs health care.
Raising the tax on a pack of cigarettes to fund health care sounds like a good idea to me.Kill two birds with one stone...if you want to smoke and raise health care costs for everybody then you should have to pay for it.
One only needs to look at the most recent bailouts to determine what would happen with national health care of any accordance. A national health care plan would grow the government even more and take more power away from the people. Taxes are going to go higher, and worst of all, the government will now dictate what we can and cannot not do when it comes to our health. This means what and when we can eat, how much exercise we'll get, what we can see the doctor for, what medicines we can, etc.
This is not a good thing. WAKE UP AMERICA!
His first big tax increase. Sure to be the first of many. The nanny state is only going to get bigger as The One and his minions keep boiling the frog.
There are many like myself who pay for 80% or more of my families health insurance. At 58 I have worked all but two weeks since I was 15. Who is going to help me pay my Insurance ?
This is a great thing.. oh.. those who smoke cigarettes and blow their smoke outside when my children are walking by.. the least they can do is pay higher taxes on cigarettes.. don't they know that second hand smoke is still killing so many or don't they care about that either?.. now all we need is a ban on people smoking outside where our children breathe.. No one should be upset about a bill that helps children get health insurance..
Thanks President Obama!
I am SO PROUD of President Obama! YOU GO OBAMA - use YOUR political capital, push through what is good and right, overturn and put a stop to what is wrong and economically unsound policy (it is not only immoral but economically dumb for society to let ANY child in the USA go without health care to the point that they become REALLY sick and burden the emergency rooms, hence more costs down the road).
More than half of us support you, this SCHIP bill is one small victory for us that have worked hard to put you where you are - keep it coming Mr President, I'm loving it!
Americans better - to give all children, no matter economic background, race, sex, or class, the CHANCE to succeed, Well done Mr. President, you have my most sincere affection and support!
"I reject these theories, and so did the American people when they went to the polls in November and voted resoundingly for change."
Wow. Another we won so shut up comment. This is truly heading in a very wrong and scary direction.
Ye, my little bitter people! i would not be quick to judge! There are several types of people in the world........Those that try and try but, still fall short.........Those that were born into money and pretends they wored their buts off.........Those that hard work and sacrifice paid off....Those that once made a bad decision but, now trying to correct it and then there are those, like many of you whom constantly complain when anyone try to help the person at the bottom of the pole. We really need more christians in the world. God allowed you be blessed with what you have but, lack of gentleness and humbleness can take it all away. Take my word!!! God take care of the small ones.
So once again, we put the burden on the smoker. I wonder if the liberal crowd will now take up smoking in order to help fund this beloved (misguided) program, ya know so they can actually put their money where their mouth is.
this is awesome the government is giving organized crime a larger income stream rather then helping children buy raising the cost of tobacco products it will increase black market sales and sales on reservations way to go. and where will they get the extra 22 million smokers needed to fund this if you think as a non-smoker this is a good Idea think again when the income from tobacco taxes doesn't work they'll be more then happy to come after your wallet too governments liberal and conservative like their income streams and almost never want to give up a single penny and as a person with no kids and doesn't ever intend to have kids who also has no insurance why should I pay for some family of 6 IE mom dad and 4 kids to have free health insurance while I have to stay home sick not being able to afford the care I need. nonsmokers need to wake up this won't work I for one will happily seek out those "tax" free cigarettes from the mob or who ever else will steal them and sell them for half price and screw the gov out of an unfair tax if you want to tax the american people to pay for health care then tax everyone fairly and give us universal health care and tell the insurance companies to hit the road.
So this was signed, how do we find out how is elgible for this and how do we apply for this. I am a caucasian single mom and I work full time and I do not have health care for my child because I can not get insurance through my employer, which is a private dental office. And all the insurance I have tried to get I am over qualified or It cost over $400-$600 per month for a plan. I am lucky if I make that amount in two weeks. Not compaining but want to know how to apply.
Obama is a dangerous ideologue and needs to be stopped in his tracks.
My company says if this passes they will take the 750 per person penalty and not provide healthcare as that is cheaper than the healthcare. Why should they care?
We can get the government version. The govenrment is planning on taxing the rich and oh yes, decreasing medicaid and medicare to pay for this. Isn't that taking from the poorest and oldest among us to subsidize businesses who will now find it more economical to take a paltry penalty than to pay for healthcare? Like the cap and trade bill which is going to cost Americans at the pump, the grocery store and for heating and cooling, while doing nothing to lower Global Warming, this bill does nothing to solve healthcare cost nor coverage. American you have been duped again by politicians
It's embarrassing that anyone would even have to debate whether or not universal health care is a universal right.
It's easy to say that healthcare shouldn't be a right -- especially when you and your loved ones are covered. It's easy to sit in your comfortable home and say, "Too bad for the Others." Too bad for "those" people who are too poor to afford insurance. Too bad for those single parent families that can't make ends meet as it is, much less pay for health insurance. Too bad that if their children get sick, they can't do anything about it.
It's easy to say that their problems are not our responsibility, but I sure as hell bet that you'd be ashamed to say it to their faces. Can any of you look into the eyes of someone who is ill and say to them, "You shouldn't have health care because you can't afford it?" or to the sick child, "Sorry your parents can't pay for you to see a doctor. Too bad for you, kid." If you couldn't say these things to their faces, then you shouldn't say it with your votes.
Healthcare is not just about dollars and cents. It's about mothers, fathers, and their children. It's about people who work two jobs just to pay for rent. It's about people who have lost their jobs, or college graduates who have not found jobs yet. I cannot imagine looking into any one of their faces and telling them that they don't deserve health care. Can you?
Congress and the Administration are definitely NOT the people to draft a healthcare plan. This is totally out of their realm of expertise since you have about 5 people that are remotely familiar with healthcare in both of these segments of our government. This bill is nothing more than a control-freak legislation devised to make people who do know what real motives are about think they will be receiving some sort of governmental kindness. This is the worst kind of game playing and will have evil consequences by undertreating the truly ill, the elderly and the infirm. If this bill is passed, it will cause terrible problems and upheaval is our once great country which, obviously, is the idea.
how can congress pass this bill on a friday night at 11pm and then go on recess for the month of august when they have a month to debate it?
I don't agree with any legislation that would significantly add to the national debt (about 1.5 trillion over 10 years, I believe). Is anybody worried how much we mortgage our country to our children anymore? Somebody better pay attention to that or we'll wind up with a national crisis on our hands in the coming years. In addition, I believe that healthcare is something that every family must provide for themselves, if they choose. There are healthy young people out there who don't want health insurance, believe it or not... Should they have it jabbed down their throat? And should our lawmakers MAKE employers insure their employees? Isn't that socialism? What has America become???
Here's a fact: It is possible to be a completely normal, compassionate, intelligent citizen and not support government-sponsored, government-run health care. Yes, we all care about people who cannot afford health care; we care about them to the point where we are willing to work towards an effective and viable solution. But here is another cold, hard fact: Health care is not a right. As much as sickness and disease hurts our hearts and creates a sense of urgency to fix this terrible but universal reality, we cannot campaign for our government to fix this problem on the premise that health insurance, a consumer good or service, is an actual "right." Here is where people assert that various assortments of letters after their name qualify them to override the thinking citizen, whoever they are. Red Beckam reminded me in a lecture that true knowledge is truth stored in the mind. If you have lies stored in the mind, you don't really have knowledge. You may have a PhD, he says, but if it was the lies you believed that qualified you for that PhD, you don't have knowledge. Anyone can have knowledge, and anyone can be ignorant, regardless of age, experience, or education. The matter at hand is, do you have the truth? Our true rights are listed in the Declaration of Independence as being unalienable, not able to be sold or transferred, and are given to us by the Creator, preventing our United States government from ever claiming the power to CREATE or TAKE AWAY RIGHTS. This is the beauty of a Republic. No, we are not a democracy. Our founders regarded "democracy" as an evil, a truly vial form of government, for it has only ever ended in loss of property, revolution, anarchy, and tyrannical leadership. The questions I think Americans need to consider about health care reform are more logical than emotional. Does the government know what is best for you or do you? How well or how irresponsibly has it run the subsidized health care we already have like Medicare (umm, it is bankrupt)? Is it worth increasing the national deficit even more and risking that much more inflation? How do you like the idea of the dollar being worth next to nothing? As comment #29 referenced, is it fair to tax businesses both great and small if they cannot afford to insure their employees as it is? How is that going to help the unemployment rate, I'd like to know....
I think this is very interesting...seeing as how much Our President is pushing abortion...he's not giving those children a chance at anything, much less health care!
I am grateful that President Obama has pushed for this bill because I am a single parent of 4 children my youngest 2 children have sickle cell disease and they are ages 4 years and 8 months old and I fully understand how a parent feels not knowing if there child will leave or die due to no medical services available based on insurance or lack of insurance
When does Obama think he has spent enough of the Americans money when our country is in the same position as the USA car buisness, to expersive and bad house loans american homeowners got, the banks then went belly up. All to far in debt to get out. That is where he is where he is taking us. Where does resposiblity come in for the president and the people. Where does the goverments controlling the people stop. I want to control my healthcare. Look at social security the goverment runs that and it is running out and they cant fix that. I would hate for the health care to run out and the rich be the only one to get it. Do we as americans believe that Obama will be using the healthcare he is giving us "NO".
Im so glad I dont live in Boston. I dont see anything worth living there, with the possible exception of the Patrots