Proposals to use increased federal tobacco taxes to fund a major expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) are being strongly opposed by some of the top Republican leaders in the House and Senate, the New York Times reported July 24.

House Republican leader Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate leaders Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) voiced opposition to the plan, with McConnell and Lott saying they would propose an alternative bill on the floor of the Senate.

Republicans objected to raising tobacco taxes to pay for the plan and said expanding SCHIP coverage to up to 5 million children amounted to creeping socialization of the healthcare system. "Dragging people out of private health insurance to put them into a government-run program is 'Hillary care' come back," said Boehner.

A bipartisan bill approved 17-4 in the Senate Finance Committee would increase spending on SCHIP by $35 billion, to $60 billion. A House proposal, drafted by Democrats only, would increase spending by $50 billion, for a total of $75 billion.

Lott and McConnell said the Senate bill "imposes an open-ended financial burden on American taxpayers and takes a significant step toward a government-run health care system."

The GOP opposition to the plan was assailed by Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), a leading cosponsor of the House measure. "For the longest time, I was mystified why Republicans would oppose expansion of the Children's Health Insurance Program to kids who are eligible but not enrolled," she said. "Now I realize. They are trying to deny us a political victory. They want to be able to say that Democrats can't get anything done. Unfortunately, Republicans are pursuing this strategy on the backs of poor children."