BUSH PLAYS POLITICS WITH KIDS' HEALTH
While 72 Percent of Americans Support the Bipartisan Compromise Children's Health Bill, Bush Callously Vetoes Bill
WASHINGTON,DC – As President Bush's veto threat of the bipartisan, compromise billreauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)became a grim reality, Energy and Commerce Committee Vice Chair DianaDeGette (D-CO) today issued the following statement:
"It isshameful that President Bush would play politics with our children'shealth. Showing his true colors when it comes to America's low-incomechildren, the President's cynical political rhetoric trumpeted thehealthy future of over 10 million kids nationwide. His actions todaywill jeopardize health care for over 10 million children of the workingpoor.
"The President is making a grave mistake by puttingpolitics above kids' health. Despite the falsehoods in his rhetoric,this compromise bill targets the lowest-income uninsured Americanchildren whose parents can't afford health insurance. Our goal is toprovide coverage to as many children eligible for the program currentlynot enrolled.
"President Bush sent a clear message to 116,000kids in Colorado that their health is not a priority. Children inColorado and across the country are relying on this vital program fortheir health care. Congress will not let the coverage lapse for thosecurrently receiving health care. We will take the necessary steps tocontinue and enhance this program."
Under the bipartisan, compromise children's health care bill,the health care of 6.6 million children would have been preserved whileproviding 3.8 million additional children with health care coverage. InColorado, 60,000 uninsured kids would have gained access to health careraising the total number of kids covered to 116,000.
An ABC News/Washington Post recently-released pollhighlights overwhelming support among the American people of thechildren's health insurance program. In fact, 72 percent of Americanssupport a $35 billion increase in the program. Support for thebipartisan children's health insurance bill includes overwhelmingmajorities regardless of political party - including 81 percent ofDemocrats, 69 percent of Independents, and 61 percent of Republicans.
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