Hillary's New Health Care Strategy: Go Slowly

March 14, 2007 — -- Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., routinely jokes on the presidential campaign trail about having "a few ideas about health care," a smirking reference to the colossal failure of her effort to overhaul the nation's health care system back in the early '90s.

But she also said often that she's "learned a few lessons since then." Lesson No. 1? Take it slow.

Today, the junior senator from New York offered new legislation meant to expand health care coverage to more American children. Call it a strategically timed first step toward that elusive larger goal of universal coverage. And call it politically prudent.

The Children's Health First Act is sponsored by Clinton in the Senate and sponsored by veteran lawmaker Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., in the House.

"We need to cover every child in America and we can," Clinton said in a video message posted on her campaign Web site today.

The bill would provide incentives to encourage states to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Plan, or SCHIP, to enroll more uninsured children. Clinton's campaign said 6 million children are already eligible to be part of the plan but are not enrolled. The legislation would also allow states to expand coverage to children in families of three earning up to $70,000.

"With health care costs growing twice as fast as wages, it's middle class families that now need a hand, and they sure haven't gotten one from this administration," Clinton said in the video message. "Well, when I'm president we will have universal health care coverage in our country so that every American has the quality health care they deserve."

Under the legislation, states could also allow families or employers to buy insurance through SCHIP.

Expanding SCHIP is something Clinton has been talking about doing ever since she ran for Senate in 2000. In her first speech on the floor of the Senate in 2001, she urged an expansion of the program. Seven years later, in the midst of a fierce campaign season, she's now authored legislation.

Clinton's office points out that this is the first time since 1997 that the program has been up for reauthorization. But presidential politics are certainly playing a role as well.

Clinton's rival for the Democratic nomination, former Sen. John Edwards, has been boasting for weeks about being the only candidate who has laid out a lengthy "plan" to provide universal health care coverage for Americans. Last week, Edwards' campaign announced it would mail a DVD outlining the plan to 70,000 Iowa voters.

And today, speaking to thousands of firefighters from around the country in Washington, Edwards challenged the other 2008 contenders to be more specific on health care. "I'm proud of the fact that I'm the only candidate, at least until now, to have a specific, substantive [health care plan]," he said. "I hope the others will do the same."

"I hope they will step forward and do what's responsible," Edwards added.

Clinton's new legislation may not be as comprehensive as Edwards' proposals, but she does have one distinct advantage. As a sitting senator, it is conceivable that Clinton's proposals could be considered for a vote in Congress. As a former senator, Edwards has no such power.

But all candidates are keenly aware how difficult it would be to find consensus on health care policy and change current laws. "Look, health care is something I have fought for my entire life," Clinton said today. "And I think you all know that I have the scars to prove it."