Washington, D.C. – Once again, President Bush has chosen to turn his back on America’s uninsured children by vetoing a new version of a health care bill that would have expanded coverage to 10 million children through the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Despite broad public support for this legislation, the president has made it clear that health and well-being of America’s children is not a priority.
While President Bush and his followers bicker with Congress over SCHIP funding and eligibility issues, America’s families are struggling to balance the high cost of housing, food, fuel and education with health care plans that include high out-of-pocket premiums, deductibles and co-payments. These flawed health care plans are proving to be too expensive for millions of Americans to afford, and many families with young children are being forced to join the growing population of Americans who are uninsured.
A majority of voters believe that no American should be denied access to health care. It is our hope that Congress will listen to the voters who put them in office and override this veto. We also hope that President Bush and his followers are held accountable for putting big business before the millions of families who are simply trying to survive without coverage. The UFCW will continue to fight for health care reform so that all Americans and their children have access to a healthier future.