If there was a liberal version of FOX News that would be the headline. 

Well anyway "Bush Hates Children's Health Care"

At least that is what could be inferred from his recent decision to cut SCHIP funding.

SCHIP debate intensifies as Bush leads efforts to block program's expansion.   The New York Times (7/9, Pear) reports, "The fight over a popular health insurance program for children is intensifying, with President Bush now leading efforts to block a major expansion of the program, which is a top priority for congressional Democrats." Furthermore, the "seemingly uncontroversial goal of insuring more children has become the focus of an ideological battle between the White House and Congress," and the "fight epitomizes fundamental disagreements over the future of the nation's healthcare system and the role of government." The administration maintains that expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program "would speed the erosion of private insurance coverage." They are also opposed to "two of the main ideas contemplated by Democrats to finance expanded coverage for children: an increase in the federal tobacco tax and cuts in Medicare payments to private insurance companies caring for the elderly." The Times adds that in "recent days, the Bush administration has taken several steps to slow momentum for expansion of the program." Bush, in his 2008 budget request, "proposed replacing virtually all of the current tax breaks for health insurance with a new standard deduction for any taxpayer who buys a qualifying health plan." And in order "[t]o return the children's insurance program to what he calls 'its original intent,' Mr. Bush has asked Congress to reduce federal payments to the states for coverage of children in families with incomes of more than twice the poverty level." A number of "Republican senators said they would work with the White House to prevent a major expansion of the program." Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) sees "the Democratic plan as 'part of an effort to bring everyone into a socialized health care system, a clarion call for Hillary Care, part two.'"
      The Wall Street Journal (7/7, A4, Zhang) added that House Democrats will still pursue "a plan that would spend billions to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program and boost traditional fee-for-service Medicare." A letter composed by the leaders of the Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committees states, "It is vital that we present a united front on this legislation. The administration will battle us every step of the way, and we cannot count on any votes from the other side of the aisle." The letter also "focused on...[approximately] six million children from low-income families earning too much to qualify for Medicaid, the state-federal program for the poor. The bill would allow older children, legal-immigrant children and pregnant women to sign up for SCHIP." The "Democrats also want to strengthen the traditional fee-for-service Medicare by increasing spending on low-income, rural and elderly residents." Democrats have also "decried the administration's proposed five-year, $5 billion increase in SCHIP as inadequate." The Democrats "budget resolution for fiscal 2008, beginning Oct. 1, included a $50 billion reserve fund to expand SCHIP."
      The Washington Post /AP (7/8, Freking) also noted, "Democratic lawmakers will push for $50 billion in new funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program over the next five years," and to "pay for that increase, they must find new sources of revenue or cut existing programs." Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, an advocacy group that promotes universal health insurance, said, "I've every reason to believe an increase in the tobacco tax will be part of the way expanded health insurance for children is paid for." Pollack added that "his assessment was based on 'frequent and relatively recent conversations' with the committees that have jurisdiction over SCHIP." However, tobacco companies "oppose another tax increase on their product, but it's unclear whether the industry has enough clout to fend" off the proposal. Bill Phelps, spokesman for Philip Morris USA, the nation's largest tobacco company, said, "We feel this trend is unfair to adult smokers as well as to tobacco retailers." He added, "Relying on the cigarette excise tax to fund an important government program such as SCHIP will create long-term funding shortfalls." Yet, the American Medical Association "said that for each 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes, youth smoking is reduced by 7 percent, and overall consumption by 4 percent." AMA's president added, "The higher the tax, the more substantial the future public health benefit." Also, Mohit Ghose, a spokesman for American's Health Insurance Plans, said, "We have supported the tobacco tax purely because the funds raised will be used for SCHIP," however "[w]e have also pointed out repeatedly that we do not believe there should be money taken from one government program for the Medicare population in order to provide funding for SCHIP." The AP added that "Democrats from the House and the Senate are expected to unveil their respective SCHIP proposals soon." To date, the "federal tax on tobacco stands at 39 cents per pack, and it generated about $7.2 billion in 2005. The money goes into the general fund of the U.S. Treasury." AMA's American Medical News also covers the story. The Washington Times ran an editorial penned by Mike Leavitt on the topic.