John Ensign: “I believe in taking a more comprehensive approach that actually doesn't increase the dependence on the Government. I am…”

“I believe in taking a more comprehensive approach that actually doesn't increase the dependence on the Government. I am addressing something different with this amendment. What I believe is we should do this amendment to fund disease prevention research, but then do a comprehensive approach that takes care of kids, that takes care of those uninsured adults, that gets them into the private insurance market. The more people, especially a lot of younger people, healthier people who are currently uninsured, whom we get into the private health insurance markets--the more the better. There are several proposals out there, whether it is tax credits or tax deductions; there is a blend of the two that has been talked about. We need to explore those because if we are doing it in a way that will take care of the uninsured, we bring in the folks who are healthier which will bring down the cost of health care insurance for all Americans. That is the direction we should be going. SCHIP will take people out of the private insurance market. The program, the expansion you have done--and this is according to CBO--will take children who are currently in the private health insurance market and it will move them to Government programs. There will be a great incentive in the future to do more and more of this.”