KING ASSAULT ON CHILDREN’S
HEALTH CARE

In 2007, King was one of the leaders in Congress opposing, of all things, health care for children.  Sen. Grassley helped put together a bipartisan compromise to expand the successful State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by 25,000 Iowa kids – 9,000 in King’s district alone.  King opposed this expansion, claiming it would benefit illegal immigrants and lead to socialized medicine.  Grassley quickly called these allegations “misleading and overheated.”  Eventually the bill was vetoed by President Bush and an extension of the current program was authorized by Congress.  Without an expansion, Iowa will likely face a shortfall and not be able to maintain its current roles in the near future.

• The $35 billion bipartisan compromise bill in Congress is good for Iowa.
• The funding level will allow us to continue to provide this vital program to those it was established to serve.
• Iowa currently covers 37,203 kids with SCHIP funds.  2/3 of those are covered through private health plans that SCHIP dollars pay the premiums.

 KING OPPOSES HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN

King Only Member of Delegation to Vote Against SCHIP.  According to the Des Moines Register, “In Des Moines, Iowa Gov. Chet Culver praised the four House members from Iowa who voted with a majority Tuesday night to renew and add $35 billion over five years to the State Children's Health Insurance Program.  Only Rep. Steve King, a Republican from Kiron, voted against the bill.” [Des Moines Register, 9/27/07]

9,000 Kids in Kings District Rely on SCHIP.  According to an editorial in the Des Moines Register, “In Iowa, Republican Rep. Steve King has refused to support the bipartisan legislation, even though more than 9,000 children in his district currently rely on Hawk-I. He says the legislation is too costly and calls expansion of taxpayer-funded health insurance a step toward ‘socialized health care.’  For the sake of his constituents, he should reverse field and vote to override Bush's veto.” [Des Moines Register, 10/5/07]

Grassley on SCHIP: “It’s a Good Bill.”  According to the Omaha World Herald, “Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, has gotten into sparring matches with Gov. Chet Culver, a Democrat, over the issue.King has said new rules on identification requirements would open the door to billions of dollars in benefits going to illegal immigrants.  Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, supports the SCHIP expansion and has been a strong GOP voice on the issue as ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee.  Grassley said the legislation will reward states for focusing on the poorest children and provide better options for families to afford employer coverage.  ‘It's not a government takeover of the health system,’ Grassley said. ‘It's not expanding the program to cover high income kids. It's a good bill.’” [Omaha World Herald, 10/17/07]

Grassley “Chief Architect” of Final SCHIP Bill.  According to the Dubuque Telegraph Herald, “On Tuesday, on a vote of 265-159, the House passed the bill that would enable Iowa's children's insurance plan, HAWK-I, to cover the 37,000 now in the plan, plus 26,000 more. And on Thursday night, the Senate, by a 67-29 margin, passed it. … In fact, as ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, Grassley is one of the final bill's chief architects and has worked mightily to get one that would cover more kids.” [Dubuque Telegraph Herald, 9/30/07]

King Called SCHIP Bill “Cornerstone for Socialized Medicine” and “Health Care for Illegal Aliens.”  An October 2007 press release from King’s office said: “Congressman Steve King called attention today to the proposed expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), or "hawk-i" as we call it in Iowa, that would allow $6.5 billion of hard earned taxpayer money to go to illegal aliens over the next ten years. … ‘In an effort to lay the cornerstone of socialized medicine for all, this proposed SCHIP expansion will cost taxpayers an additional $6.5 billion just to pay for the health care of illegal aliens who should otherwise be sent back to their home country,’ King added.” [King press release, 10/15/07]

• Grassley Called King’s Statements on Illegal Aliens “Misleading and Overheated Rhetoric.”  According to the Des Moines Register, “King said Tuesday night that there were not enough safeguards in the bill to prevent immigrants in the country illegally from obtaining the subsidized health insurance.  Sen. Charles Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, called arguments about immigrants ‘misleading and overheated rhetoric.’” [Des Moines Register, 9/27/07]

King Logic Flawed on Illegal Alien / SCHIP Attack.  According to the Dubuque Telegraph Herald, “One of the [SCHIP] House opponents, Rep. Steve King, the Republican who represents Iowa's 5th District, fired off a press release with the headline, "Senate Children's Healthcare Bill Knowingly Allows Benefits to Illegal Aliens."  "Any bill that allows American taxpayers to pay for services to illegal aliens has to be stopped," King proclaimed.  Apparently, King's concern is that checking a recipient's Social Security number is part of the process for them being accepted into the program. And since undocumented workers might have phony numbers, he contends SCHIP is designed to provide services for illegal aliens. Never mind that Americans routinely use Social Security numbers to identify themselves.” [Dubuque Telegraph Herald, 9/30/07]