To the Editor:

Could Ms. Carson have been bothered to point out that the very Cato Institute scholars she cites (“Misinformed, Bush strikes children with healthcare veto,” 10/18) to show that President Bush’s newfound devotion to fiscal discipline is disingenuous, also find her arguments in favor of SCHIP to be meritless?

For example, on the question of whether SCHIP “federaliz[es] medicine,” it matters little whether SCHIP benefits are delivered through the private sector; what matters is who pays the piper. In addition, Carson’s claim that “Bush’s claim that families making up to $83,000 could enroll in SCHIP is simply false” is false.

Michael F. Cannon

Oct. 18

Cannon is the Director of Health Policy Studies at the Cato Institute.