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It's unbelievable, but in the greatest country in the world there are 9 million children that are without health insurance, and almost 90 percent of them are from working families. Two of them are my own grandchildren.
In response, both the House and Senate passed an expansion with bipartisan support of SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program), the popular bill that provides millions of kids with health care. This expansion will provide coverage to an additional 4 million uninsured children.
In a recent Washington Post poll, 72% of Americans support the SCHIP expansion bill. There is broad and bipartisan support in Congress for reauthorizing S-CHIP. Which makes me wonder, who does not support children's health care?
Hmmm…do any compassionate conservatives come to mind?
President Bush has vetoed the SCHIP expansion bill!!! At the same time that Mr. Bush has requested an additional $200 Billion for Iraq, pushing the price tag for that fiasco to $600 Billion dollars and counting…
The SCHIP expansion would cost 35 Billion over 5 years…think of it this way, every day we spend enough money on the occupation of Iraq to insure 200,000 kids for a year!!
This is wrong in so many ways…
The president and members of his so-called "family values" party would leave children whose parents do not make enough to be able to afford health insurance without access or coverage. An accident or illness could cripple that family with debt from medical bills.
Besides, providing health insurance and preventive treatment is more cost effective for all of us. A recent study (Brigham Young University) put the cost of emergency room treatment at $2,000, much higher than it would cost for regular medical care & visits.
Keeping our children healthy is not just the morally correct thing to do; it's an investment in our future!
Mr. Bush argues that he must issue this veto because this is an attempt to provide health care for all American.
You're darn right it is! That's exactly what we need, access to health care for all Americans. No more bankruptcy, or lost homes, over the inability to pay medical bills, no more ignoring illness or pain because you can't afford care! Most all other developed nations believe that their citizens have a right to health care. I agree, and I plan to make the push for health care for all Americans and make it a priority when I get to Congress.
Click here to watch my video message to Congress.
Thank you
JA
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