Blunt Outlines Case Against S-CHIP Expansion

Rep. Roy Blunt called a press conference in Springfield Friday to outline why he's opposed to the $35 billion dollar expansion of the state children's health insurance program (S-CHIP).

Blunt started with the premise that the goal of the original S-CHIP program was aimed at targeting families between 100-200% of the poverty level or an average annual income of $41,000 for a family of four.

"Some of my friends on the other side of this argument reached the conclusion that if a program for poor kids is good, a program for all kids must be great, or a program for more kids must be better," Rep. Blunt said.

He warned such a large expansion of the program could disrupt the private insurance market, and possibly drive up other people's health insurance rates. He also cited the large amount of baby boomers that will reach retirement age next year --- and how the solvency of Medicare and Social Security should be Congress' first priority.

Blunt also said the President's modest proposal of a $5 billion dollar increase was not good enough. "I think we're going to look at a program that in a 5-year window would increase more than the White House has projected," Blunt said. He did not put a specific dollar amount on an increase he could support. But he said he was most comfortable with keeping eligibility around the 200% poverty level line -- and not expand it to 300 ($61,950 income/year) or ($82,600 income/year) 400%.

Blunt also pointed out that the cigarette tax that is supposed to pay for the expansion is a fundamentally flawed funding mechanism. He said in the final 5 years of the 10-year extension, the funding would have to be cut by 80%.

He said the country would need to produce 22 million new smokers over the next 10 years just to reach anticipated program costs.

"That's a huge gimmick, it's irresponsible," Rep. Blunt said. "It's too important a topic to say I'm going to vote for this because it's got a popular title. I'd like a good title and a good bill."

"And I'm definitely opposed to 22 million new smokers," he said.

Blunt made this much clear: He and other Republicans aren't opposed to the continuation of the current program, they are just opposed to this program.

"I think every day this is out there, Republicans who voted against this will have more people understanding their position," Blunt said. "If this was October before the election, I'd be much more worried about our members than I am right now."