Barack Obama and Joe Biden: The Change We Need

DEBATE REALITY CHECK: MCCAIN VS SCHIP EXPANSION

October 02, 2008

Tonight, Joe Biden said of McCain: “He voted against including 3.6 million children in coverage of an existing healthcare plan when he voted in the Senate.” [Vice Presidential Debate, 10/2/08]

The Facts: McCain Opposed SCHIP Expansion

MCCAIN SUPPORTED BUSH VETO OF SCHIP EXPANSION

McCain Supported Bush's Veto of SCHIP And Voted Against Providing Insurance For Millions of Uninsured Because It Raised Taxes On Tobacco. McCain voted against reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program for five years, expanding the program by $35.2 billion. To offset the cost of the expansion, it would increase the tax on cigarettes by 61 cents to $1 per pack and raise taxes on other tobacco products. McCain told CNN that Bush’s subsequent veto of the legislation was the “right call by the president” because the legislation offered a “phony smoke and mirrors way of paying for it.” According to the New York Times, “what really sets [McCain] off is the way Congress proposes to finance the measure, which President Bush vetoed and is facing a veto override vote: an added tax on cigarettes.” [2007 Senate Vote #307, 8/2/2007; 2007 Senate Vote #306, 8/2/2007; 2007 Senate Vote #401 , 10/31/07; CNN, 10/3/2007 ]
The SCHIP Bill Would Have Expanded Health Coverage To 5.8 Million Children. Accord to the CBO, the SCHIP bill would expand coverage to 5.8 million children, 3.8 million of whom are uninsured and 2 million of whom have or have access to private health insurance. [Congressional Budget Office, 9/25/07 ]