Reply #5: Here's a NYTs article from 7/22, respectable health reporter [View All]

Democrats Press House to Expand Health Care Bill

By ROBERT PEAR
Published: July 23, 2007

WASHINGTON, July 22 — After a rare bipartisan agreement in the Senate to expand insurance coverage for low-income children, House Democrats have drafted an even broader plan that also calls for major changes in Medicare and promises to intensify the battle with the White House over health care.

President Bush has threatened to veto what he sees as a huge expansion of the children’s health care program, which he describes as a step “down the path to government-run health care for every American.” The House measure calls for changes that the administration will probably find even more distasteful, including cuts in Medicare payments to private health plans.

Like the bill approved last week 17 to 4 in the Senate Finance Committee, the House bill would increase tobacco taxes to help finance expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

House Democrats hope to portray the issue as a fight pitting the interests of children and older Americans against tobacco and insurance companies. The White House says the Democratic proposals would distort the original intent of the children’s program, cause a big increase in federal spending and adversely affect older Americans who are happy with the extra benefits they receive from private health plans.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/23/washington/23health.html?ei=5088&en=338d2e2458f1adae&ex=1342843200&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1185643665-Zg+kEtfSy0ex4uAmgbbGrQ