CHIP could affect well-being of Cornyn's re-election campaign

[babylonsister]

CHIP could affect well-being of Cornyn's re-election campaign
Clay Robison
Web Posted: 08/12/2007 09:30 PM CDT


San Antonio Express-News

AUSTIN — In the words of Democratic political consultant Kelly Fero, the 1.4 million Texas children without health insurance are "the gift that keeps on giving."

He wasn't talking, of course, about the personal suffering that many of the kids endure or the huge economic and social losses they pose, both now and for the future.

He was talking about the politics of health care, and how Texas Democrats have increasingly been putting Texas Republicans on the defensive since state GOP leaders orchestrated deep cuts in the Children's Health Insurance Program to avoid raising state taxes four years ago.

The cuts were believed to be a factor in the unseating of several incumbent legislators — mostly Republicans but also a couple of conservative Democrats — during the 2004 and 2006 elections.

The bleeding was enough to prompt Speaker Tom Craddick and other Republican lawmakers to support legislation last spring restoring some of the reductions in the CHIP program, which insures children of working parents who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but can't afford to buy their own health coverage.

But, with Texas' rate of uninsured children still the highest in the country, Democrats promise to hammer away at more Republican state legislators next year. They also will use the health care issue — most likely in a double-barreled assault — to try to unseat U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.

more...

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/politics/stories/MYSA081307.03B.robison.303eb6b.html

[napi21]

1. Ohhhh, would I love it if I never had to listen to that smug, self centered,

blowhard anymore!

[babylonsister]

2. Meeee, toooo! nt

[Alexander]

3. Who could beat Cornyn? Who are the possible Democratic candidates?