From YouTube:
Marian Wright Edelman discusses this incredible story with Amy Goodman on DemocracyNow. The Facts: President Bush has threatened to veto legislation that would provide health insurance for 9 million uninsured children. This despite 91% of the country, both Republicans and Democrats in both Houses of Congress, and even many pharma and insurance groups, being in favor of the legislation.
The problem with the law in Bush's mind is undoubetdly that the $35 billion program is financed through a $0.61 tax in cigarettes. This, by itself, is a societal benefit as it would lead to less smokers, lower health costs and ultimately lower taxes.
But, Bush, whose Justice Department saw fit to unilaterally cut a legal settlement with Big Tobacco by $120 billion two years ago, is once again choosing cigarette profits over the nation's children, the country's health and, ultimately, all of our tax liability.
4 Comments
jonnyFunding the legislation with a cigarette tax was just politically expedient. To the best of my knowledge, no study has ever shown a link between increased prices and a reduction in cigarette smoking, especially among the poor. Clearly, cigarette smoking raises health costs for everyone, and in the abstract, it makes sense to tax that to help pay for healthcare. But the reality is, this tax will hit hardest the very people the legislation is aimed at helping.
In the words of Mark Shields, "taxes ought to be based on the ability to pay. The smokers in this country have become the untouchables."
quantumushroomDo those who support this foolishness actually believe the additional tax monies would be used as intended?
CaBhaalsays...Funny how you can use two diametrically opposed items to put a spin on anything.
Cigarettes = bad
healthcare = good
taxes = bad
Children = good
or mathmatically:
Children + healthcare = cigarettes + taxes
You have to favor one side of the issue over the other. This has been made into a polarized issue of Big Tobacco versus children; when it is much more complex than that. John Q. Public will not see the larger issues at stake and instead see Bush's veto as a "favor" for Big Tobacco.
It's obvious, right? Why else would he veto something as popular as this bill, at a time when his popularity is at its lowest and he would do anything for public approval? It would seem like a no-brainer.
So, perhaps there are other issues at stake here more than what is being represented by the media.
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