Obama Uses Drop in GDP to Tout Children’s Health Care Bill

President Barack Obama used the bad news on the economy – GDP dropped at an annual rate of 3.8% last quarter – to put in a plug for Congress’s expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. On Thursday, the Senate passed a bill that is expected to add about four million more children to the SCHIP program at a cost of $32.8 billion over 4½ years. The House, which passsed a similar version earlier this month, is expected to pass the Senate bill next week and send it to Obama for his signature. “As the worsening economy causes families to lose their jobs and health insurance, it is vital that we redouble our efforts to ensure that every child in America has access to affordable health care,” Obama said in a short statement. “That is why I am pleased that the Senate has joined the House in passing bipartisan legislation to provide health insurance to children whose families have been hurt most by this downturn.” The president also signaled that he sees the SCHIP expansion ... (link)