Pelosi conference covers new economic legislation

In a weekly press conference today, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) discussed the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) legislation and said that, "This is the day we have worked for, prayed for, hoped for, and that we will now pass this legislation with a very strong bipartisan majority to ensure 11 million children in America, and before the day is out, President Obama will sign it into law."

As the economic recovery package is being pushed ahead, Pelosi said ""We have to have this bill passed so that we don't have another month tallied up going into the future." She went on to say that she is "eagerly awaiting the Senate product so that the House can work with them to send a bill to the Presidents desk next week."

Pelosi refused to discuss the "what if" scenarios, maintaining that we will just have to wait and see what happens. She said that everyone supports stabilizing financial institutions and strengthening our economy and "what ever form that quest will make, we will all find out together."

Later today Pelosi plans to have a meeting with some of the members from Kentucky, Arkansas and Missouri to express sympathy to those who are affected in those states.

by Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

House passes SCHIP

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) described the House's vote in favor of the State Children's Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) as a symbol of the new direction Congress hopes to take.

"The Bipartisan, fully payed for, Children's health insurance bill represents the new direction Democrats fought for in the last congress," said Pelosi during a press conference immediately following the vote. Also in attendance were a number of Democratic Congressional leaders and families who will benefit from SCHIP, including a couple whose son went through two million dollars worth of medical procedures.

"This is only the beginning of the change we can achieve with our new President," added Pelosi.

SCHIP is expected to be one the earliest, if not the first, piece of legislation signed by Barack Obama. Under the Bush administration SCHIP was vetoed twice, despite support from a number of Republicans.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer touted the range of the bill's support.

"Not only did we get two thirds of the vote but almost 30% of the Republicans in the House of Representatives voted for this bill."

Hoyer continued,

"Fixing America's health care will take much longer than an afternoon, but today we made an essential start."

Congress presses for children's health insurance

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) commented on Congressional efforts to pass the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), describing it as a symbol of President Elect Barack Obama's promise to bring change to America.

According to data released by the Majority Leader's office, SCHIP will provide health insurance for over 11 million children, give parents greater access to preventative care, and allow states to enroll documented immigrant children in the country in health programs without waiting the five year waiting period.

Hoyer addressed concerns raised by conservatives that SCHIP will provide federal funds for children in the U.S. illegally, dismissing the complaint as a red herring and promising that nobody in the country illegally will receives SCHIPS's benefits.

Despite having support from a number of Republicans, SCHIP was vetoed twice in 2007 by President Bush. Following the initial vetoes, Hoyer stated that Democrats in Congress pledged that if they were reelected under a Democratic President they would pursue SCHIP again.

The Majority Leader also discussed upcoming legislation that would reform the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP). The legislation seeks to enforce the original intentions of the bill, such as requiring a substantial amount of the remaining $350 billion to be used for lending, and will also be subjected to additional oversight.

Talking Points: HHS Secretary Leavitt on FY2009 budget

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Leavitt began his press conference on the FY2009 budget by warning that Medicare in its current form will be bankrupt within 11 years. Unlike Social Security, which he called "a math problem," Medicare will need to be heavily reformed in order to remain functional. He said that some people will see this budget's attempts to bring Medicare "into a more sustainable" form as a cut, but the changes in the new budget are aimed at improving the program's sustainability by improving efficiency and bringing in market forces, citing the Medicare prescription drug reforms as a positive example. He also said that the changes reduce the premiums that beneficiaries pay.

Leavitt also said work needed to be done to remove the tax discrimination against people who do not buy health insurance through their employer, saying up to an additional 20 million people might be covered if that change were made.

Leavitt said that the SCHIP program retains coverage of people with gross incomes of up to 200% of the poverty line, and it allows states to cover people up to 250% of the poverty line.