Democrats try to move US toward rationed health care

Washington Times:

Republicans and the White House say Democrats are pursuing a "giant leap" toward socialized health care by trying to draw middle-class families into a federally funded health insurance program for low-income children.

They say proposals being pushed in the House and Senate this week undermine the marketplace by offering coverage to children already insured privately and try to do so by cutting benefits to the elderly.

"Democrats are once again moving us toward 'Hillary Care' — a massive, complex system wholly run by government bureaucrats," said House Minority Leader John A. Boehner of Ohio.

The federal Office of Management and Budget said the Senate version would expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to families earning as much as $83,000 annually.

Both versions face a veto threat from the White House, which has proposed a $5 billion expansion to the program versus the Democrats' call for as much as a $50 billion increase.

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The Democrats are pretty shameless when it comes to the health care debate. It should be a badge of honor for Republicans to oppose this effort to ruin the best health care system in the world. It is also ridiculous to cut benefits to those more likely to need them to give them to those less likely to need them.