[PEN-L:9430] CDF: CHILD Act introduced (fwd)

[Wojtek Sokolowski <sokol@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

It seems to me to be an awfully regressive way of solving the problem.
Cigarettes and the tobacco industry have now been proclaimed a new satan &
evil empire and the witch hunt is on.  As always under such circumstances,
mythology obscures the reality -- it is the working poor, not limousine
liberals like T.K., who spend a grater share of their disposable incomes on
tobacco products, and it is them who will bear the burden of "helping the
disabled children."

It seems to be another way of "divide et impera" policies the Executive
Committee of Bourgeoisie aka the US government has been pursuing toward this
society.  It ain't gonna help the poor children, but it will further
antagonize one group of the poor against another.

It also looks like the British colonial rule revisited.  The British
government was once one the largest dope peddlers to the Third World
countries like China -- using proceeds from selling opium to supplement its
imperial revenues.  Apparently, the US government guided by the unholy
alliance of right wingers and limousine liberals, is looking into addictive
substances as a revenue source.

BTW, does anyone on this list (D&S collective, are you listening?) can
produce a set of numbers describing the impact of the proposed legislation
on different income groups?






>Return-path: <owner-leftnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 00:18:12 -0700
>From: Nathan Newman <newman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: CDF: CHILD Act introduced (fwd)
>Sender: LEFTNEWS - News of Interests to Progressives and Leftists
> <LEFTNEWS@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Reply-to: LEFTNEWS - News of Interests to Progressives and Leftists
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>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 13:32:37 -0400
>From: John Aravosis <CDFupdate@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>To: cdfupdate@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: CDF: CHILD Act introduced
>
>CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND
>April 8, 1997
>
>*** CHILD Act (S.525) Introduced in Senate ***
>*** Bi-partisan Coalition of 14 Senators Co-Sponsor ***
>
>"A child struggling for breath from a severe asthma attack doesn't know the
>difference between a Republican or a Democrat.  It is long past time for
>America to give every child a healthy start and we urge the Congress and
>the President to support the bi-partisan 'CHILD' Act." -- CDF President
>Marian Wright Edelman
>
>"In this great land of incredible riches and abundance. . .there are still
>children being left behind. . . .we're trying to help those who cannot help
>themselves, which I think is the most conservative thing you can do in this
>society."  -- Senator Orrin Hatch
>
>"All children deserve a healthy start in life.  Every family deserves the
>security of knowing their children will get the health care they need.
>This legislation we are introducing today will go a long way toward
>assuring these basic goals for every child." -- Senator Ted Kennedy
>
>Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) today introduced the
>CHILD (Children's Health Insurance and Lower Deficit) Act, S.525 --
>legislation that will make quality health insurance affordable and
>accessible to the families of America's 10 million uninsured children by
>giving grants to states to help families buy private insurance that meets
>the range of children's needs, while reducing the federal deficit.
>
>The bill uses increased cigarette taxes to pay for the child health
>initiative -- with one third of the taxes raised going for deficit
>reduction.  The bill also will make insurance policies more easily
>accessible to those higher-income children who will not receive help in
>paying for insurance.
>
>Fourteen other Senators joined Senators Hatch and Kennedy in co-sponsoring
>this important legislation, including Senators: Snowe (R-ME); Collins
>(R-ME); Stevens (R-AK); Bennett (R-UT); Campbell (R-CO); Smith (R-OR);
>Jeffords (R-VT); Kerry (D-MA); Dodd (D-CT); Rockefeller (D-WV); Daschle
>(D-SD); Wellstone (D-MN); Bingaman (D-NM); and Lautenberg (D-NJ).
>
>If your Senator has co-sponsored S.525, the CHILD Act, congratulations for
>all of your hard work, AND please call and thank them for their support.
>If your Senators are not on the list, please call and urge them to support
>this important bi-partisan legislation to help provide quality and
>affordable health insurance to America's children.
>
>** CALL - Congress' Switchboard: 202/224-3121
>** EMAIL - To email your Senator directly, go to the following Web site:
><http://www.berkshire.net/~ifas/activist/index.html>.  And don't forget to
>include your name and address on the email (most offices only respond to
>email from their own constituents).
>** WRITE - To write your Senator: The Honorable _________, US Senate,
>Washington, DC 20510.
>
>Thanks for all you do for America's children!
>
>
>***********************************************************
>         -- OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR NUMBERS --
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>
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>
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>
>John Aravosis
>Children's Defense Fund
>25 E Street, NW
>Washington, DC 20001
>202/662-3540 (fax)
>CDFupdate@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
>change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead
>
>-END-
>
wojtek sokolowski
institute for policy studies
johns hopkins university
baltimore, md 21218
sokol@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
voice: (410) 516-4056
fax:   (410) 516-8233


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