Democratic Party activists everywhere (Capitol Hill, internet advocacy sites, press releases, rallies) have recently been attempting to make serious political hay over recently-approved children's health care legislation that, despite legislative Republican opposition, was passed by both Democrat-majority houses of Congress only to be met by a White House veto. The Democratic message is that President Bush and Congressional Republicans just don't care about children in need of health care.

Earlier this week, one such Democratic rally was aimed at Congressman David Dreier for his negative vote on this legislation, which was the re-authorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Left-wing activists mobilized and picketed the district office of Congressman Dreier, among the street protesters was Russ Warner, a Rancho Cucamonga resident who is hoping to be nominated as Dreier's Democratic opponent in November 2008.

Republicans don't care about kids? Certainly great political hyperbole, but what's the real story behind SCHIP brouhaha?

The State Children's Health Insurance Program was created by a Republican Congress in 1997 as part of the Balanced Budget Act. It is estimated that the program now costs the American taxpayer $5 billion per year and covers 6 million children.

The program that was written and approved by President Bill Clinton mandated Congressional reauthorization every ten years.

The Democrat-authored bill on SCHIP that was voted on this year made SCHIP a permanent entitlement. Furthermore, Congressional Democrats proposed ballooning spending on SCHIP by $35 billion to $50 billion per year.

Capitol Republicans and President Bush offered a proposal to keep SCHIP focused on children whose families make no more than 200 percent of the poverty level -- $20,650 for a family of four.The Democratic majorities would allow some states to cover children in families at 400 percent of the poverty level -- as much as $80,000 a year.

Republicans remain focused on children. New Jersey, Michigan, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Illinois and New Mexico all spend more SCHIP money on adults than on children.

Additionally, President Bush and Congressional Republicans have supported modest increases to SCHIP that would cover childen who really need health care. Increases that neither threaten the solvency of the program nor could necessitate a tax increase in the future.

Once again, the debate over SCHIP reauthorization is being framed by Democratic politicians using children as political cover in a blatantly inaccurate attempt to paint Republicans as mean-spirited ogres hell bent on hurting children. Hopefully, the mainstream press and traditional media will focus on what the recent debate is really about - an evolution of a children's health program into a socialized medical scheme.