Are any GA Dem's taking SCHIP seriously? It's the defining domestic issue. Healthcare for kids. Parents go put and sign up for and pay for SCHIP; it's no freebie. Kids stay healthier. Leads to a more productive society.
Emergency rooms less clogged up. What does it take for politicians to fight for this...

Some good SCHIP talk here:

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/shared-blogs/ajc/politicalinsider/entries/2007/09/19/blogwatch_sonny_perdue_and_an.html

http://georgiawomenvote.blogspot.com/2007/09/i-am-livid.html

http://georgiawomenvote.blogspot.com/2007/09/john-edwards-we-didnt-get-healthcare-we.html

http://www.gbpi.org/pubs/healthcare/20070915.pdf

Speaking of priorities...

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/stories/2007/09/20/fieldsed_0921.html
Sadie Fields is state chair of the Georgia Christian Alliance.

Pretty f-ing Christian of ya to hate on children, there Ms. Fields. Way to have your priorities in order.

I’m not a smoker but increasing taxes on smokers is not a good way to pay for reducing the number of uninsured children. It sends the wrong signal – “smoke a pack - help a child?” The best way pay for this is to cut spending. They could start with defunding the war. Also they could cut costs by providing more preventative and diagnostic procedures at schools by qualified nurses, but the AMA might have a problem with that.

Those opposed to the reauthorization/expansion of SCHIP use words like Welfare and Entitlement as an attempt to put a (stereotypical) face on the beneficiaries. And they claim that families will drop their private insurance for government insurance. The truth is that families would pick the best coverage from the choices available to them. I do not see these same politicians giving up their government provided health plans for private insurance.

Below is text from the 1997 bill. The goal was to make health care available to children up to the same standard as the provided to government employees by the taxpayers. Seems like a good idea to me.

(1) Benchmark Coverage--Benefit plans must be equivalent to: the standard Blue Cross/Blue Shield Preferred Provider option offered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP); a health benefits plan that is offered and generally is available to State employees; and the HMO plan with the largest commercial enrollment in the State.
(2) Benchmark-Equivalent Coverage- The health benefit coverage must have an aggregate actuarial value that is at least equivalent to one of the benchmark packages. The coverage must include benefits in the following categories of basic services: inpatient and outpatient hospital services; physicians’ surgical and medical services; laboratory and x-ray services; and well-baby and well-child care, including age-appropriate immunizations. The coverage also must be at least 75 percent of the actuarial value of the benchmark package value for each of the following additional services: prescription drugs, mental health, vision, and hearing services.

Insightful post from Prog. Well done.

Don't forget dentistry, a huge part of preventative medicine for younger children.