Radio Address by the President to the Nation, 09-22-07

WhiteHouse.gov ^ | 09-22-07 | George W. Bush

[Salvation]

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 22, 2007

President's Radio Address

  President's Radio Address
  Audio
  En Español

      In Focus: Health Care

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning.

In just eight days, the State Children's Health Insurance Program -- or "SCHIP" -- is set to expire. This important program helps children whose families cannot afford private health insurance, but who do not qualify for Medicaid, to get the coverage they need. I strongly supported SCHIP as a governor, and have strongly supported it as President. My 2008 budget proposed to increase SCHIP funding by $5 billion over five years, a 20 percent increase over current funding.

Instead of working with my Administration to enact this funding increase for children's health, Democrats in Congress have decided to pass a bill they know will be vetoed. One of their leaders has even said such a veto would be a "political victory." As if this weren't irresponsible enough, Congress is waiting until the SCHIP program is just about to expire before passing a final bill. In other words, Members of Congress are risking health coverage for poor children purely to make a political point.

The proposal congressional leaders are pushing would raise taxes on working Americans and would raise spending by $35 to $50 billion. Their proposal would result in taking a program meant to help poor children and turning it into one that covers children in some households with incomes of up to $83,000 a year. And their proposal would move millions of children who now have private health insurance into government-run health care. Our goal should be to move children who have no health insurance to private coverage -- not to move children who already have private health insurance to government coverage.

My Administration remains committed to working with Congress to pass a responsible SCHIP bill. In the meantime, I called this week for Congress to make sure health insurance for poor children does not lapse. If they fail to do so, more than a million children could lose health coverage. Health coverage for these children should not be held hostage while political ads are being made and new polls are being taken. Congress must pass a clean, temporary extension of the current SCHIP program that I can sign by September 30th, the date the program expires.

In addition to extending the SCHIP program, Congress needs to focus on passing fundamental spending bills -- especially the annual funding bill for the Department of Defense. Congress must also pass additional funding for our troops fighting the war on terror. We need these bills so we can get our men and women in uniform essential equipment -- like additional armored fighting vehicles that are resistant to mines and ambushes.

The American people expect their elected leaders in Washington to work together by passing responsible bills in a timely manner. I am confident that with good will on both sides, Democrats and Republicans can do this. We can meet our obligations to help poor children get health coverage. We can meet our responsibilities to the men and women keeping our Nation safe. And we can do our duty to spend the taxpayer's money wisely.

Thank you for listening.

 

Archives

Radio Address:
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001

Radio Interviews:
2006
2005
2004

FAQ

I can't find a radio station that carries the radio address. Do any stations in Pomona carry it?
Click here for answer....

 

 

[Salvation]

For your reading and listening pleasure as well as your comments!

[Salvation]

Radio Address Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Radio Address Ping List.

[Salvation]

My apologies, everyone. I got busy doing a couple of other things and almost forgot this.

Anyway, here it is, better late than never.

[Salvation]

**My 2008 budget proposed to increase SCHIP funding by $5 billion over five years, a 20 percent increase over current funding.

Instead of working with my Administration to enact this funding increase for children’s health, Democrats in Congress have decided to pass a bill they know will be vetoed**

Definitely coming down on the dimocrats, isn’t he?

They are such *&^**() numbskulls that they can’t even keep it together for children. I know..........I know..........they will blame Bush.

[television is just wrong]

can’t afford medical care, don’t have kids.

[TNCMAXQ]

Headlines all read “Bush to veto children’s health care.” Totally predictable.

[Salvation]

Of course, isn’t that the mantra of
ABCNNBCBS??

[maica]

Thanks, I wonder how many ‘news’ reports will broadcast what the President is saying in this radio address. If the parties were reversed, the threat of letting the SCHIP program lapse to make a point would be headlines every half hour.

[Libloather]

Democrats Recruit a 12-Year-Old to Combat Bush on Kids' Health

Graeme Frost will speak for Democrats tomorrow in their response to President George W. Bush's weekly radio address.

Sounds like child abuse...