Bruce Poliquin defends children’s health care cut measure as critics pile on
In a recent statement on the issue, Poliquin said the money he seeks to strip away would be wasted. He also said it can't be spent anyhow.
The two-term lawmaker said cutting the appropriation will have no impact on federal outlays or on enrollment in the two-decade-old program that provides health insurance for children from families with incomes a little too high to qualify for Medicaid.
Critics said it won't actually save much money -- the move would amount mostly to an accounting shuffle -- and sends a disturbing message about the nation's priorities.
The measure pushed by Trump would cancel
The CHIP funding rescission is the item that has raised the most ire. It calls for cancelling
"Only a handful of states have had to tap the contingency fund before --
Her center estimates there are 14,427 children enrolled in the program in Poliquin's sprawling northern
Poliquin defended his position as a necessary check on a soaring deficit.
"
"Only in
Congressional Budget Office Director
Alker said his projection "is not surprising" given that the CBO expects the states to have enough money. However, she said, a recession or natural disasters could change the equation.
"The contingency fund is intended to provide states the peace of mind that if they run out of CHIP funds because of increased enrollment, the federal government will step in," Alker said.
Poliquin's office pointed out that since 1974, Democratic and Republican presidents have proposed
Poliquin was among the lawmakers who approved a budget in January that included at least six more years for CHIP, something his office called "the longest and most generous extension of the CHIP program in its 20-year history."
Funding for the program is set for
Most experts who have weighed in think the rescission proposal is likely to pass the
"We must do better than this," said
"Instead of threatening health insurance for children, we need to make sure everyone -- every single person -- has access to quality health care.
Pingree said she "can't believe we're wasting valuable time with this rescission package" sought by President
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