Trent Lott: “I think it is important on an issue of this nature that we have a full discussion and amendments offered and debated and…”

“I think it is important on an issue of this nature that we have a full discussion and amendments offered and debated and voted on. This alternative is intended to show we fully intend to be supportive of the SCHIP program--the program for children's health insurance--and we want it to be done in a responsible way and in a way that actually increases funding to make sure the children it wants to cover are actually covered. I have, on two previous occasions, indicated that part of my big problem is the pattern of the coverage going up and up, to the point where States that have waivers now, and under the underlying bill, middle-income children would be covered, and that we are on a steady march to say all children ought to be covered regardless of income. I think that is a mistake. I think it is unaffordable. It will lead to disruptions, and it will lead to significant tax increases, or it will start to put our children against the parents.”