Compassionate Spite

Like most politicians, President Bush is awfully talented when it comes to spending other people's money. Last week, he gave out all sorts of goodies on his trip to Latin America, where he kowtowed before Latin American leaders, apologized for America's prosperity and begged Latin Americans to like the US, pretty please. Back in Washington, he's going once more for the American taxpayer's wallet, this time with spite...

In response to concerns that some babies may be missing out on essential health care, the Bush administration will issue a rule making it easier for the infants of non-citizens to gain access to services covered through Medicaid.

Typically, newborns of Medicaid beneficiaries are deemed automatically eligible for the health care program during their first year as long as the mother remains eligible.

Last year, federal officials said this automatic status would not extend to infants whose delivery was covered through emergency Medicaid. Such emergency care covers the labor and delivery expenses for many uninsured families, including illegal immigrants.

On Tuesday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services changed course. The agency said any newborn whose mother is eligible for the emergency care will be deemed automatically eligible for Medicaid during the baby's first year of life.

The nation's treasury is already empty. The President added trillions in future debt by promising senior citizens prescription drugs at the taxpayers' expense, now he is making it easier for illegal immigrants to hoist the expense of caring for their offspring on the very same Americans who don't want them in the U.S. in the first place. In short, the President very quietly just gave the American people the finger. Again. And without any outcry from the Republican Party - the alleged home of conservatism.