Mike Leavitt used to be the governor of the state of Utah. Now he is secretary of Health and Human Services in George Bush's cabinet. Recently Leavitt came out and said that the president as well as himself, Leavitt, were opposed to an increase in funding for CHIP, the federal program that pays for health insurance for needy children in lower economic brackets on the basis of "ideology." By that, Leavitt means that he and Bush believe the federal government should stay away from insuring poor children and instead let the private insurance sector do the job of providing health insurance. But suppose a child's parents don't have the monies to pay for the health coverage? The answer to what would happen then is something Bush and Leavitt fail to answer or address.
Leavitt was gung-ho for the CHIP program during the time he was governor, Rebecca Walsh writes this morning in The Salt Lake Tribune.
"Mike Leavitt loved his props.
"As Utah's governor, Leavitt used to juice up his earnest budget and State of the State speeches with wooden apples and pie charts. But nothing worked as well as a poverty-stricken cherub. And Utah's former governor used not one, but two over the years to prove his commitment to taking care of children.
"In 1998, he cradled 7-month-old Bo, who was taken at birth from his heroin-addict mother. In 2001, Leavitt boosted 11-month-old Preston White, who was born with a bone abnormality. The State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) saved his parents from bankruptcy.
"Seems Mr. Leavitt has forgotten little Bo and Preston now that he's gone to Washington. Now that he's a front man for the Bush administration, Utah's former governor has rediscovered his opposition to state-subsidized health care for poor children."
So Mike Leavitt was for the CHIP program before he was against it? And if Leavitt thought that CHIP saved families from having to declare bankruptcy, why now would he advise Bush to veto an increase in a program that can only include more children who need the federal insurance?
Leavitt thought so much of CHIP when he was governor that he even got his wife, Jackie, to make TV commercials praising and espousing the program. Writes Rebecca Walsh:
"Besides using Preston and Bo, the former governor dedicated his 2000 conference for community leaders to the issue. He and first lady Jacalyn Leavitt filmed public service announcements for CHIP. "
The turn around in Leavitt's position is hard to believe. As governor, he loves CHIP. As secretary he hates it. Imagine the disgrace of CHIP - the federal government uses taxes to pay for health insurance for poor children.
Remember this is the same Mike Leavitt that has gladly taken in over $200,000 in federal farm subsidies over the last eight years. As he was going to the bank to deposit these federal farm hand-outs, I am unaware of any Leavitt objections to that federal hand-out the way he is objecting now to health coverage for sick children.
Leavitt was gung-ho for the CHIP program during the time he was governor, Rebecca Walsh writes this morning in The Salt Lake Tribune.
"Mike Leavitt loved his props.
"As Utah's governor, Leavitt used to juice up his earnest budget and State of the State speeches with wooden apples and pie charts. But nothing worked as well as a poverty-stricken cherub. And Utah's former governor used not one, but two over the years to prove his commitment to taking care of children.
"In 1998, he cradled 7-month-old Bo, who was taken at birth from his heroin-addict mother. In 2001, Leavitt boosted 11-month-old Preston White, who was born with a bone abnormality. The State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) saved his parents from bankruptcy.
"Seems Mr. Leavitt has forgotten little Bo and Preston now that he's gone to Washington. Now that he's a front man for the Bush administration, Utah's former governor has rediscovered his opposition to state-subsidized health care for poor children."
So Mike Leavitt was for the CHIP program before he was against it? And if Leavitt thought that CHIP saved families from having to declare bankruptcy, why now would he advise Bush to veto an increase in a program that can only include more children who need the federal insurance?
Leavitt thought so much of CHIP when he was governor that he even got his wife, Jackie, to make TV commercials praising and espousing the program. Writes Rebecca Walsh:
"Besides using Preston and Bo, the former governor dedicated his 2000 conference for community leaders to the issue. He and first lady Jacalyn Leavitt filmed public service announcements for CHIP. "
The turn around in Leavitt's position is hard to believe. As governor, he loves CHIP. As secretary he hates it. Imagine the disgrace of CHIP - the federal government uses taxes to pay for health insurance for poor children.
Remember this is the same Mike Leavitt that has gladly taken in over $200,000 in federal farm subsidies over the last eight years. As he was going to the bank to deposit these federal farm hand-outs, I am unaware of any Leavitt objections to that federal hand-out the way he is objecting now to health coverage for sick children.
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