House votes for expanded health care

After two failed attempts in 2007, Congressional Democrats are now confident they can pass an extension and expansion of the successful S-CHIP program.  Essentially the same bill as those vetoed by President Bush, will expand health care benefits to an additional 4 million eligible children.

Making a down payment on President-elect Barack Obama's promise of universal health coverage, the House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to expand government-sponsored insurance to 4 million more children in working families with income too high to qualify for Medicaid.

Obama said he hoped the Senate acts with the "same sense of urgency so that it can be one of the first measures I sign into law when I am president."

"In this moment of crisis, ensuring that every child in America has access to affordable health care is not just good economic policy, but a moral obligation we hold as parents and citizens," he said.

Forty Republicans joined Democrats in passing the bill 289-139. Congress passed similar legislation in 2007 but it was vetoed both times by departing President George W. Bush. (Link)

The Senate is expected to begin work on the bill tomorrow.  I do have some trouble with how the increased federal cost will be paid - a 61 cents a pack increase in cigarette taxation.  Look, I understand the argument that cigarette smoking is a major health issue and a major contributor to health care costs in the U.S., but it does seem Congress is avoiding the obvious; they're too afraid to actually raise taxes to pay for the program and are targeting cigarette smokers to fund the S-CHIP program.  It feels a bit like they're taking advantage of folks addictions to pay for social programs.