What is CHIP? The Children’s Health Insurance Plan was established in 1996. It is a bipartisan plan written by Democrat, Ted Kennedy, and Republican, Orrin Hatch. Its purpose was to provide health care for children who fall into the ‘wage gap.’ Their parents make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to purchase health insurance through their employers. Last year nine million children were covered by this plan.

When it was renewed in 2015, the pattern was the same as previous years. CHIP received overwhelming bipartisan support. This year Republicans, including Senator Hatch, claim that they ‘don’t have the money.’ Millions of children could die without their healthcare.

This is interesting because the Republican tax bill will give massive tax cuts to large corporations, to 585 billionaires, including Donald Trump, and 10.7 million millionaires.

Not only will it harm nine million children, it will remove healthcare from 13 million Americans, and force the middle class to pay higher income tax. The eventual result will most certainly increase income inequality, and raise the number of Americans living in poverty.

Our nation is the only developed nation which puts its people in a very low priority. Republicans believe in profit before people, and bow to their owners; the super rich. Each year Republicans demand more money for the Pentagon to waste; this year nearly 800 billion dollars. Each year they allow money for personal projects which benefit their reelections. We recently learned that congress has “secret,” “special” funds for their personal use. One congressman used $84,000 of that fund to quiet a woman who accused him of sexual assault.

It’s time for the American People, who are, in fact the United States of America, to come first. We should have free healthcare, paid family leave, guaranteed retirement funding, and guaranteed vacations. Our government must no longer be allowed to rule over us; they are elected to serve us.

Please re-post; thank you.

Op-ed by James Turnage

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