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DEC 14 '00 16:15 FR SEN GRAHAM 202 224 2237 TO 94567431 P.02/02 National Journal's CongressDailyAM Thursday, December 14, 2000 Health Insurance Effort Rapped By Republican Conservatives HEALTH AN UNUSUAL EFFORT to members, House Ways and Means these choices for them." forge a bipartisan Health Subcommittee Chairman Bill McCrery and Thomas also fault the consensus on the issue of the uninsured Thomas, R-Calif., and Rep. Jim McCr- is encountering its first major criticism. plan for its expansion of government ery, R-La., a member of the subcom- Last month, the "strange bedfel- health programs, which they said was mittee, offered a two-page critique of lows" of the Health Insurance Associ- "straight from the playbook of the 'gov- the proposal, urging that before the ernment-run healthcare' crowd." ation of America, the consumer group plan "gets legs," members should re- Families USA, and the American Hos- Instead, McCrery and Thomas sup- view it more carefully. pital Association unveiled a proposal port tax credits to help those without "Politics may make strange bedfel- that would combine tax credits with coverage buy their own plans. lows," the letter said, "but those bed- The criticism has stung advocates an expansion of the Medicaid and State fellows do not necessarily make good Children's Health Insurance Programs of the proposal, who hoped the plan policy." could at least foster a dialogue on what to guarantee insurance coverage for The key problem with the plan, ac- has proved a nearly intractable issue all Americans with incomes under cording to McCrery and Thomas, is that to address. twice the federal poverty level. it "empowers bureaucrats, not individ- "The whole purpose of our effort is Leaders of the groups - who have uals" by building on "the current byzan- to reduce the temperature, not to raise been bitter adversaries on everything tine and inefficient healthcare system." it," said Families USA Executive Director from the Clinton health reform plan to The legislators added, "Instead of Ron Pollack, reached in California, where managed care reform legislation - empowering individuals to choose the he is promoting the plan with HIAA Pres- stressed that their proposal was intended health plan that best suits them. it em- ident Charles (Chip) Kahn. "We would as a way to bridge the partisan divide on powers others - employers and [the much prefer to reach out gently and a issue facing the 107th Congress. But in Health Care Financing Administration] calmly" to legislators, Pollack added. a recent letter to Republican House and state governments - to make - By JULIE ROVNER THESE FLORIDA ELECTED OFFICIALS MAY DIFFER ON RECENT EVENTS BUT THEY ALL AGREE THAT BARRING LOW-INCOME LEGAL IMMIGRANT CHILDREN FROM FEDERAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS IS WRONG AND ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO FIX THIS INJUSTICE. "Ensuring that legal immigrants, who are highly motivat- "If given the chance of a healthy start, many of these chil- ed individuals, have the tools they need to care for their families now is directly related to their current and future dren will undoubtedly grow up to repay our nation as tomorrow's scientists, entrepreneurs, and leaders." ability to maintain jobs and contribute to the economy." - Rep. Пеапа Ros-Lehtinen (November 21, 2000) - Governor Jeb Bush (October 26, 2000) [A second grade teacher's] students come from Bosnia, "There is no justification for continuing to deny these fami- Cameroon and Guatemala. Most of the students come lies the assistance they need, particularly in this time of from poor families unable to stretch unparalleled prosperity." their meager resources any further. - Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (October 24, 2000) Students come to school so hungry that they are unable to learn The financial "The time is now to see this legislation passed burdens/ and the loss in human capital caused by hunger We can pay the price now or we can pay are avoidable." the price later with sick children and fami- lies." - Rep. Carrie Meek, Rep. Peter Deutsch, - Rep. Mark Foley (October 5, 2000) Rep. Robert Wexler (October 19, 2000) "These are the human victims of the law of unintended Please join them and hundreds of health, consequences. Welfare reform was supposed to promote anti-hunger, religious and community self-sufficiency, not punish working families who are trying organizations in supporting pending to care for their children." legislation to restore federal health and - Senator Bob Graham (October 4, 2000) nutrition access to lawfully present immigrant children and families before Congress adjourns. PAID FOR BY: NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER, NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LA RAZA, FOOD RESEARCH AND ACTION CENTER & FAMILIES USA ** TOTAL PAGE. 02 **