
Roberts, Tiahrt give opposing arguments on SCHIP
Here are today’s headlines from the Kansas congressional delegation:SCHIP(Wichita Eagle commentary) Roberts: Do not believe myths about SCHIP: Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., wants to bust myths being spread by some opponents of the bill reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. … “This bill only covers children 18 or younger. This is current law, and this bill does not change that. More important, this bill actually fixes the problem created by this administration, which granted waivers to states to cover adults under this program meant for low-income children.”This bill . . . builds on the current private structure, better allowing states to provide health insurance to children through the private market.” Roberts’ conclusion: “This is a good bill, and it will provide health insurance to children who would otherwise have no access to health care.”(Todd Tiahrt commentary in the Wichita Eagle) REP. TODD TIAHRT: SCHIP BILL SHOULD FOCUS ON LOW-INCOME CHILDREN: President Bush two weeks ago vetoed a bill that will provide free health care for middle-income adults while 500,000 low-income children go uncovered. I supported the State Children’s Health Insurance Program when Republicans created it 10 years ago, and I continue to support covering all of our country’s low-income children. Unfortunately, the bill the president vetoed expands coverage to adults without covering all of our low-income children, which is why I will vote to sustain his veto.Rep. Nancy Boyda (D) !(Argghhh! commentary) Earned Income Tax Credit and the Services: “It’s about time”, said Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) in a Tuesday morning press conference, when it comes to making permanent a tax relief for our military families. Boyda said eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit should NOT be temporary and has introduced a bill which will benefit thousands of military families, by expanding their eligibility for the tax relief. Boyda has introduced the Tax Relief for Armed Combat Families Act of 2007, which will permanently expand the eligibility of military families to receive the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The legislation will cut the taxes of over 150,000 military families across the United States, in some cases by thousands of dollars. Rep. Jerry Moran (R) !(Harris News Service) Earmarks Now More Visible, But is New Rule Full of Holes?: First District Congressman Jerry Moran, a Hays Republican, said this week that he backs legislation he says would extend openness and scrutiny to even more pieces of legislation that could contain earmarks. Current rules don’t allow members to dispute earmarks inserted into non-spending bills, he said. He’s also joining Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., a frequent critic of congressional pork-barrel projects, in calling for a halt on new earmarks until a special committee can study ways to improve the process. “We’ve just created a system in which we spend too much and aren’t doing it to the benefit of taxpayers,” Moran said in a telephone interview.