If We Don't Stand Up for Our Children's Health -- Who Will?

Providing health care for uninsured, low-income children. It's one of the most important things we can do to make sure our kids grow up to be healthy adults.

Certainly, it's our moral obligation. Seems like common sense, right?

But, inexplicably, President Bush has said, "No." He vetoed the bill to extend and strengthen the successful State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) that, to date, has provided health insurance for roughly 6.6 million children of low-income working families.

As I said during a conference call with Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and Senators Patty Murray, Maria Cantwell, and Bob Casey, it is mystifying that the President and his few congressional allies are saying that government involvement in health care is a step toward dangerous, socialized medicine.

I know my children were the beneficiaries of a government-run insurance program until they became adults. Members of Congress and their children are eligible for health care that's under the government's umbrella. The President and his are family as well. If it's good enough for congressional kids and the President's kids, it should be good for the low-income children who are desperate for health care coverage.

An override vote is scheduled in the U.S. House this week. For our children's sake, I urge you to join my fellow governors and me in urging Congress to overturn his senseless veto. Contact your Congressmen and women now and urge them to vote to override the Bush veto.

The House and Senate acted with tremendous bipartisanship to reauthorize SCHIP. If they overturn the President's veto, more than 10 million children and families in need would be able to afford health insurance.

SCHIP is an indisputable success. It enjoys broad bipartisan support. But, still, President Bush has stubbornly vetoed the program in an attempt to deny health care for uninsured children from low-income families.

This partnership -- SCHIP -- between the states and the federal government has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise troubled health care system. SCHIP has made it possible for millions of children to see a doctor, receive preventative care, and live healthier lives.

Those children are better-prepared to learn as students when they enter a classroom. They are better prepared to succeed as adults when they enter the workforce. In other words: Better health care for more children today means a stronger, more productive America in the years to come.

The President has threatened the great progress we've achieved. And we need to send him and congressional leaders a strong message on behalf of millions of kids who still need health care.

Bottom line: Each one of those children represents a reason for Congress to override the President's veto.

Comments

[dusty59]

RE: "I know my children were the beneficiaries of a government-run insurance program until they became adults. Members of Congress and their children are eligible for health care that's under the government's umbrella. The President and his are family as well. If it's good enough for congressional kids and the President's kids, it should be good for the low-income children who are desperate for health care coverage."

I'm so glad to hear this point brought up. But I'd extend it to all citizens. If my partner did not have access to insurance through my D.P. benefits he would be out of luck due to preexisting conditions. There's no excuse for healthcare access being such a nightmare, and a national plan should not be limited to only the "uninsurab­le."

[Mr.Fitz]

You mean the President and Congress participate in socialized medicine?! egads!!

[what0now0toons]

I am appalled, once again the hatemongers rear their ugly heads. What do they want, the kid to have died? The family living in cardboard boxes behind some dumpster? I bet they do, as long as it puts money in their pockets.
My new What Now Cartoon deals with the 12 year old kid who gave the rebuttal to the SCHIP veto by Bush.
As usual the right attacks the messenger, not the message.
Here's my cartoon
www.whatnowtoons.com

[darker]

Nobody will stand up for kids' health care & insurance.

But too many will stand up for GREEDY RICH CORPORATE WELFARE QUEEN CORPORATIONS getting richer on their "designer war" the IRAQ INVASION.

[Pdubya]

WE should stand up for our childrens' health, you're right. but not our federal government and the healthcare industry bedpartners that are currently the same ones pushing for universal healthcare. take the fed and insurance out of healthcare and IT WOULD be affordable and doctors would perform their hypocratic oath freely.

[lodger]

Yes, we need national health care, just like every other industrial, advanced society. Picking on cigarette taxes is chicken and foolish. If every smoker stopped, it would cost society more, because ex-smokers live longer and cost more in Social Security and Medicare in the long run!

[jsidney]

Why do you want to make an old woman on a pension pay for rich private school kids' medical bills?

Because you have a moral imperative to stomp on despised minorities?

[lodger]

Why are you against socialized medicine? Don't you love America's socialized Pentagon? And America's socialized "private" defense contractors? Do you ever use America's socialized airports, or roads, or police, or firemen... HA HA!!!

[givemycountryback]

I have said it before, sick parents cannot take care of healthy kids. We need health insurance for every American citizen, especially the adults. Kids need it too, especially for immunizations. But I must say that my son has never been what I would call sick. But I know personally several people in their 40s and 50s that do not have insurance. There is no way you can pay those outlandish premiums. These people are one illness away from bankruptcy. This is the age where you need insurance. Why doesn't this country care about its citizens. I say stop this insane war and start taking care of the people who need it. and take away the tax cuts for the rich. Now am I wrong in thinking this is the Christian way.

[Pdubya]

We dont' need INSURANCE, we need HEALTHCARE, and thats just not semantics. Its INSURANCE and the FED that makes for corporate bedfellows and is costly. Today, its

CORPORATE/welfare if Hillary gets her way, its corporate/WELFARE both corrupt both will bankcrupt.

Take insurance companies out of the mix and we'd have house calls again. cheap ones too.

[MsCanada]

I have been telling my friends here in Canada about what I've been reading on American blogs recently. They are uniformly shocked at the mean-spirited, greedy, ME ME ME attitude expressed by so many Americans. So many of you have virtually no sense of community and blithely blame those less fortunate for all their troubles.

Here is what I have learned about the American mindset:

Taxes are ALWAYS bad.
Government is ALWAYS bad.
If you are poor, it is ALWAYS your fault.
The US is overrun with welfare queens.
Wealth is a sign of worthiness. If you makes lots of money, you are by definition, a good person.

As a country, you should be ashamed of yourselves. But I know that anything I say falls on deaf ears. You are so brainwashed by the right that it is disgusting.

[Ani]

Yes, MsCanada ... You're my new songstress!

Sing it, girl.

You've nailed the Republican mindset perfectly.

And, yes, so many of us are ashamed of the past years under Republican rule.

Please know, though, Ms. Canada, that many of us don't have deaf ears. We HEAR you who trumpet our failings. We agree. We KNOW.

Keep us honest. Please.

And pray for us, if you do such a thing.

We need people like you to see us for what we are.

We need your honesty. Your pluck. Your forthrightness.

We're in the middle of our own forest and we can't see the trees with our blind eyes. We need you to see for us.

We need you to tell us what you SEE.

All my best,

Ani

[lodger]

I know where you're coming from. But please realize, the far right had dominated American media for decades. The far right always claims the media is liberal, but that is part of their Big Lie strategy.
I think W Bush has finally pushed a little too far. He is hated by many, and 70% disapprove of him. The American media has been splintered by cable TV and the internet.
Don't be surprised to see some big changes coming in America in the next 1-15 years. Of course, nothing will change until King George is gone!

[realitytrumpsbull]

If you want healthy kids, you don't need
a multi-bill­ion-dollar federal handout
program to the healthscare industry to achieve
that, you need to start at the inexpensive
and practical level of evicting TVGOD from
your living room, clearing the kitchen of the
18,000 pounds of garbage food, and exhorting
the younglings on the virtue of hard work.
Soon enough, by the time that this administration is finished, they'll be learning
that at the child labor camps anyway, so
better to get em off to an early start! LOL

[mikegoodyearaz85338]

Charity begins at home. Give to a children's charity.

[crabcake]

I am all for taking care of our fellow Americans, including health care for "poor" children. But, I do not want to provide health care for Mexicans who sneak across the border to have their children and then make a claim for health care for their "poor" American child. Something has to change in regard to being physically born in this country to be an American. Both or one of the parents should be Americans citizens, period.

[Waubay]

Why did Bush veto this bill? For the exact same reason that the override won't pass. An expanded SCHIP will cause the big corporations in the medical community to make a little less money. Whether a bill makes money for or takes away money from corporate America is a perfect litmus test for determining if a bill will pass in Congress. It's not about what's best for America and its people - its about corporate CEOs being able to buy that fourth yacht or third mansion.

[tcagle]

Thank you, Gov. Sebelius, for your support in this fight. You have done the people of our state well in so many ways. The only thing I can fault you on is not being more accommodating to alternative energy sources. We are wind-blessed, but we are one of only ten states not offering net metering to home energy producers. I understand the thinking behind the alternative plan in place now, but the absence of net metering (selling electical power back at the going retail rate) is stifling interest in developing this industry. I could really do without the coal-fired plant proposed for Holcomb too.
Glad to see you on HuffPo!

[Mormondude]

The question is what Gov. Sebelius will do if this doesn't pass. Will she Stand Up for Kansas children by fighting for expanded state funded health insurance to help fill the gap, or will she drop it like a bad habit?

[LightningJoe]

Every reporter that comes into contact with one of the slackers in Congress should put them that question, in that way:

"You recently voted to approve/withhold funding for/from the SCHIP Children's Health Bill. Are you willing to stand by/change your stance on this important legislation by voting to cancel all of Congress' and the Senate's own health coverage, until the children of the nation are covered?"

[LightningJoe]

Congress has a veto too, and it's time they started using it as freely as our so-called leader does; because in present circumstances, it's their ONLY power for change. Or, rather, for NOT-change.

The Majority in Congress has total control over whether (or not!) a Bill is sent to the Oval Orifice. If a Bill never sits on His desk, King George cannot "amend" it with a signing statement, or toss out the hard work that went into it, and blame Congress for putting out "unacceptable" legislation.

True, nothing gets done, but isn't that preferable right now? President Bush ensures that if something does get done, it's a bad something.

Congress has the power to throw chocks under the wheels of His fascist juggernaut, and could use that power to bargain with. Never mind what the psychopath in the WH says about it, no one believes Him or Faux news anymore anyway. They know He's lying as soon as the Smirk starts.