More SCHIP fibs

Adrian Smith, who is either a liar or a moron.

Nebraska’s three congressmen continue to spew the repeatedly-debunked Bush administration rhetoric against SCHIP, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. I’m careful to not say Republican Party rhetoric, because some of the bill’s most outspoken supporters have been Republican. In spite of several people’s claims that a bi-partisan bill is needed, this is a bipartisan effort.

In her New Nebraska Network post Rep. Smith Misleads Constituents Regarding SCHIP, Lisa Hannah of the extremely thorough SmithWatch blog has contributed a point-by-point response to Adrian Smith’s latest batch of claims. But her terminology is too generous – he’s simply lying. Based on his campaign statements and quotes in interviews (and third-person anecdotes), I have little respect for the intellectual capacity of our third district congressman. But I refuse to believe he’s so thick that he really has no understanding of the bill.

Here’s a taste:

CLAIM #1 - The current SCHIP bill would make it possible for illegal immigrants to receiving federal benefits.

FACT - Sec. 605 says, “Nothing in this Act allows Federal payment for individuals who are not legal residents.” Further, funds could be denied if this does occur at the state level.
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CLAIM #3 - The bill would not serve poor children first, and would allow states to cover families making $84,455 per year, even though it exceeds 300 percent of the federal poverty levels.

FACT - Sec. 114 specifically notes that no child can be covered in a family that makes over 300% above the poverty level ($61,950).

Currently, the only state covering families above 300% is New Jersey, at 350%. New York Governor Eliot Spitzer tried to get coverage for up to 400% ($82,600), but was denied.

The present bill would allow an exception for these two states, but this has to be approved by HHS. New requirements would be issued to keep higher guidelines, but after Oct. 1, 2010, if those requirements were not met, those states would not get federal funds for children above 300%. If they did meet requirements, their federal matching rate would still be reduced.

Overall, 70% of children covered would be in families that are at 200% of the poverty level or less ($41,300 per year). Currently, 31 states have their SCHIP levels set at 200% or less (Nebraska is at 185%).

Two of the comments by NNN reader ColumbiaDuck demonstrate even a further level of dishonesty on the part of the Bush administration and their mouthpieces:

I would like to make one minor correction – New Jersey is the only state that would be allowed to cover over 300% in the most recent bill. And, as you note, they can only do this if they show they are making a targeted effort to reach those under 200%. New York is not allowed to go over 300% (and would need a waiver to go over 200%).

Another reason this is a disingenuous argument for Republicans to make – BUSH’s HHS approved the Jersey waiver. So he was for covering up to 350% until he was against it (ie until he could use it as a political weapon).
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If New York’s petition earlier this year had been approved, then they too could have gone above the 300% threshold. However, it wasn’t.

Ironically, it was the Bush people who rejected New York’s application. So they absolutely know that the 400% number (82,000) is total b*llsh*t, yet they say it again and again and again. The only way that number could have been real was WITH the approval of GWB.

For the Lee Terry fans, here Kyle Michaelis of NNN offers a response to the 2nd district congressman’s similar lack of honesty about the bills he votes on.