By Don Heinzman
ECM Editorial Contributor
A bill to renew and possibly expand the Federal Childrenís Health Insurance Program will have an effect on Minnesotaís uninsured children, if it is defeated.

Known as SCHIP, the 10-year-old program covers six million children whose parents earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but who cannot afford private health insurance.

Up to now, the program has enjoyed bi-partisan support, but it is mired in a swamp of congressionally-passed laws to renew and extend it, presidential vetoes, and unsuccessful attempts to override the vetoes.

The bill has passed both the House and the Senate, but members in the House of Representatives lack the votes to override President George Bushís veto.

If funding for the current program is not renewed, due to inflationary costs and cuts in the program, more Minnesota poor children could lose their insurance coverage.

If the measure passes as constituted, some 30,000 children in Minnesota could gain health insurance over the next five years, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.

Despite Minnesotaís existing Minnesota Care program, which uses state and SCHIP funds to provide health insurance for children in poverty, Minnesota still has 85,000 uninsured children, according to Childrenís Defense Fund Minnesota.

A recent survey by the National Kids Data Book, ranked Minnesota at the top of the nation in child well-being

Minnesotaís two senators and six congress members have voted in favor of the renewal and expansion of the program. They are: Senators Norm Coleman-R and Amy Klobuchar-D and Congress members Jim Oberstar-D; Tim Walz-D; Jim Ramstad-R, Colin Peterson-D, Keith Ellison-D and Betty McCollum-D.

Two who have opposed the bill and have upheld President George Bushís veto are: Congress members John Kline-R in the Second District and Michele Bachmann-R in the Sixth District.

The latest House bill would expand the program by nearly $35 billion over the next five years, would tighten restrictions on any illegal immigrants receiving SCHIP benefit and cap the income levels of families that quality for the program.

President Bush proposes spending $5 billion more than what is now being spent over the next five years.

Congresswoman Bachmann wants a bill that will focus on SCHIP-eligible children who are uninsured. Sheís also concerned that if the bill were passed, there is the possibility that illegal immigrants could get benefits through Medicaid or SCHIP. She contends 77 percent of children affected by expansion of SCHIP already have personal, private health insurance. Finally she says the SCHIP plan is financially unstable.

Congressman Kline has always supported SCHIP, but opposes this bill because it fails to make uninsured kids a priority and because the funding mechanism, increasing the cigarette tax is flawed. It would take 22 million new smokers to make the cigarette tax work, his spokesperson said.

This childrenís health insurance bill has become a political football, where compromise is needed. Congress needs to hear from the people as well as the public opinion polls, which favor an expanded SCHIP program.

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