What SCHIP expansion is really about
SCHIP was created in 1997 by Congress and former President Bill Clinton. Its original intent was to cover children in families who made too much to be eligible for Medicaid.

This program was supposed to limit eligibility to families making not more than 200 percent of poverty line, $40,300 for a family of four.

The problem is that states have taken license with the original intent. Seven states set eligibility above 300 percent or higher of the federal poverty level, which is $60,000. New Jersey tips the scales at 350 percent.

Fourteen states have applied loose definitions of child. Does anyone consider under age 25 a child? Of course not, unless you are in Congress and are trying to push the universal government-run health insurance. That is what it is all about.

In the grand scheme of things, it's the frog in the boiling water. Throw him in while it's just tepid, he won't notice. Tell him the warm water will be good for him and his little frog family and then bam ... turn up the heat.

Not until the heat is on, does he realize the government has now taken over his health care. The government will take control of your doctor visits, your diet, your smoking and drinking habits, and every time there is a report that something is bad for you, it goes on the list of things they check to see if you partake . If you do, you don't get a doctor visit or won't be covered.

Wake up people.

Here's an amazing fact: The Congressional Budget Office issued a report on SCHIP. It found that

about 60 percent of the children who were eligible for SCHIP were covered by private insurance in the year before the program was enacted."

Shocking isn't it? No, not really. Why pay for private insurance when it looks like the government is giving it to you free.

Free? Nothing is free. Who do you think is paying for this monster socialistic plan? You are.

This expansion will be vetoed by President George W. Bush and I say Amen.

Judith A. Tier

Red Bank