Children's health care plan heads to veto showdown

The United States Congress is soon to be the place for a 'battle royale' between President Bush and the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. This battle royale is a result of the Republicans' veto of the popular 'Children's Health Care Bill'. The main criticism of this plan by the Republicans is that the plan may encourage people to move from private health care plans to cheaper public plans. Nancy Pelosi states that the Democrats will keep pushing this bill and there will be absolutely no compromise. The bill, which is proposed to cost $35 billion, will cover medical expenses for up to 10 million children. The current children's health care plan covers 6 million children who come from families with yearly incomes of $41,000 or less, for a family of four. The cost for the expansion of this health care bill would be covered by a 61 cent increase in the federal tax on every pack of cigarettes sold.

I believe that expansion of this plan is great and the method of paying for it it smart also, as the whole idea really 'kills two birds with one stone'. Not only does the bill gives 4 million more children health care but the increased cost of the cigarettes may deter some smokers and consequently, 'help' them quit smoking. The fact that some people may wish to change health insurance plans should not enter into the argument, as the health of the many children who will benefit from the new plan should be the priority.