SH*T, the SCHIP

(I dedicate this post to all those morons who argued with me before the election that Obama was going to lower taxes, you were proven wrong in the 1st 100 days. Hell, the first 30 days.)


AP Wire, February 4, 2009:

"President Obama has signed a bill extending health coverage to 4 million uninsured children. The bill calls for spending an additional $32.8 billion on the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Lawmakers generated that revenue by raising the federal tobacco tax. Obama said it is a key step toward his promise of universal health care coverage for all. [It] will mean an estimated 2.4 million children who otherwise would have access to private insurance will join the State Children's Health Insurance Program instead." (Source)


Read that again - they've added coverage for 2.4 million children who already have access to private insurance! This added coverage expands the possible coverage to 350% of the federal poverty line. This means that a family of four making up to $74,200 can receive free government healthcare! And here's the kicker, the bill grants states the ability to determine the limits of a particular family's income (ignoring capital gains, subtracting housing expenses, etc). So, in essence, a family making more than $74,200 could still be eligible if the state allowed it. (Source)


And now for the tax increase part. The money for this wonderful bit of socialism will come from jacking up the tobacco tax. The tobacco tax has now increased from 62 cents to $1.01.


I hate cigarettes as much as the next person but this is a HUGE tax increase and didn't Obama say something about lowering taxes? And, my friends, this is just the beginning.