Divisive Issue Divides Florida Senators
The SCHIP program, which is headed towards an almost certain passage and expansion, is still causing some diviseness among senators over the issue of funding. The proposal involves increasing the taxes on cigarettes at the rate of 61 cents per pack and would expand the program to cover an additional 4 million children who currently would not be poor enough to qualify. One of Florida’s senators, Democrat Bill Nelson, is expected to vote in favor of the expansion. Republican senator Mel Martinez, is still undecided. Martinez shares the same concerns that many do regarding the bill, but is afraid that if he does not vote in favor, his political career will be marred. Concerns over the bill include relaxed requirements over documentation proving citizenship, stimulating worries that tax payers will be assisting illegal immigrants. Secondly, the cigarrette tax will more heavily affect those in low income situations, as they are more likely to smoke. Finally, the proposal would allow benefits for families three times above the poverty level, a degree that many find too large. Do you think the bill will pass simply because senators are afraid to be labeled anti-children, or is the bill legitimately too flawed to pass?
January 26th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
It is funny how it states the cigarrette tax will heavily affect those in low income situations, but these are the people who don’t have insurance and continue to smoke and be unhealthy.
Why would we relax our requirements over documenting citizenship more than what it already is? Don’t we have enough illegal immigrants in our country taking the jobs that millions of unemployed Americans could be benefiting from.
January 26th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Look at it as the domino effect. They raise the tax on cigarettes therefore making it possible for more people to get their kids on lower income insurance plans. Then the cigarette companies will start struggling thus having to lay people off, thus leaving more low income familes uninsured. You gotta love how they never think anything through.
January 26th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Simply is not the word for it. Yes to both alternatives - scared and flawed. This is politics at its worst. You get health premium assistance for your children if you make $60K a year? A whole new tranche of entitlements. That’s why Bush quashed this thing months ago. Open to illegals? I’d fight a border war to get these kinds of benefits for my family. Maybe even give up smoking. God forbid I should work hard to achieve the American dream. I’d be better off to make $45K max a year and get tax rebates and benefits (health care, college tuition, etc.) for free. It will give freedom a bad name.
May 29th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Thank you for your most interesting article. I will come back for more ^_^
May 29th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Excellent post, keep it up
February 12th, 2011 at 11:20 pm
Habbo Retros…
Habbo Retros are slowly attracting more users with each passing day, most people prefer to play Habbo Retros with pets according to a recent google study, further evidence also supports that Habbo Retros have lead to an annual decrease in revenue for s…
July 20th, 2011 at 10:32 am
Great piece of details that you?ve obtained on this website submit. Hope I might get some a lot more of the stuff in your website. I will are available back again. Mainan Edukatif untuk Anak Anda