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Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Do Republicans hate children?

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed a bill that will expand and extend the State Children's Health Insurance Program, known as S-CHIP. This program, which is about to expire, currently provides health insurance for 6.6 million children whose parents can't afford private insurance.

The bill in question would expand the program to cover 10 million children, making a dent in the 9 million American kids without healthcare, spending $60 billion over the next five years. By getting kids regular medical care, it should keep uninsured children from visiting the emergency room as often, saving us all money in the long run.

The bill was passed in a bipartisan effort, 45 House Republicans joining nearly all House Democrats in voting for it.

And, although the bill has passed both the House and Senate, in the House it passed by less than a two-thirds vote. Meaning that, unless things change, the House doesn't have the votes to override President Bush's promised veto.

Now, why is President Bush threatening to use only the fourth veto of his presidency on a bill to help kids' get regular medical care? Not sure, and I've given up trying to interpret the miniscule efforts of the president's brain.

But what sickens me is that some Republicans, including all of Alabama's Republican representatives, have joined the president in opposing this bill. And I'd like to know why.

So I just sent the following email to our congressman, Rep. Spencer Bachus.
I am completely disappointed and disgusted that you sir, chose to vote against the expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP).

This bill was a carefully crafted piece of bipartisan legislation. It has the approval of a long list of oft-combative organizations, including the AMA, the AARP, and health insurance providers. It would help some of the 9 million uninsured American children obtain health insurance and get regular health care.

As a parent of an 18-month-old child who was born 7 weeks premature, I understand the importance of regular doctor's visits for children. Yet for families without health insurance, paying for these regular checkups is sometimes impossible. So, families wait until their children are seriously ill; at that point, they take them to the emergency room.

As an employee of UAB, and someone who has taken classes in Healthcare Management, I understand that emergency room care is the MOST EXPENSIVE possible. Yet for families without health insurance, it is their only option. And who pays for their healthcare at that point? We do.

Insuring as many American children as we can is not only the morally responsible thing to do; it is the financially sound option as well.

Yet you and the rest of Alabama's spineless Republican delegation have chosen to, once again, be President Bush's lapdogs and vote the way the White House tells you. The reasons for President Bush's opposition to this bill are not clear, at least to me. The 60 billion dollars contained in the S-CHIP expansion are a drop in the bucket compared to the billions we're spending in Iraq. And, in the long run, getting regular health care for children will save us money, as it will keep them out of our emergency rooms.

But you don't care about that. You don't care about anything other than following orders from the White House. You've turned your back on the 10 million American children without health care.

And as a result, I will turn my back on you. I will never, ever, ever vote for you again, and I will celebrate the day when citizens concerned with the welfare of the Alabama family throw you out of office.

Your colleague Rep. Ray LaHood (R-IL) posed an interesting question, when he said: "I'm a little baffled as to why the Bush people picked this issue to fight it out on. It's very sensitive. It's about kids. Who's against kids' health care?"

Apparently, you are, Mr. Bachus.

I would encourage you to rethink your position and join the 45 members of your party in the House who are supporting this bill. Send a message to the president by overriding his veto, and tell the White House that in Alabama, we care for our children.

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