SCHIP Veto Override Fails Again

By: Lowell
Published On: 1/23/2008 2:56:21 PM

Once again, President Bush has vetoed legislation to expand health care to millions more American children.  Once again, just about every Democrat has voted to override that veto, while just the vast majority of Republicans have voted to sustain it.  Here are the Virginia Republicans who are against expanding health care for children:

*Eric Cantor (R-7th)
*Thelma Drake (R-2nd)
*Randy Forbes (R-4th)
*Virgil Goode (R-5th)
*Bob Goodlatte (R-6th)
*Rob Wittman (R-1st)

Keep that in mind come November.  Also, see the "flip" for reaction from Tom Perriello, running to unseat Virgil Really Bad Goode.

Perriello: "Children's Health Care a Question of Right and Wrong"

January 23, 2008-Ivy, VA-Tom Perriello, Democratic congressional candidate in Virginia's Fifth District, today lamented that Congress was not able to override President Bush's veto of the revised State Children's Health Insurance Program. The bill (HR 3963) would have provided health insurance to 30,000 more low-income children in Virginia.

"Providing health care to low-income children is not just a question of good economics and good public health, it's a question of right and wrong and what we stand for as a society," said Perriello. "Caring for the health of the most vulnerable and most treasured among us must transcend partisan bickering."

Rep. Virgil Goode voted against the bill despite revisions that addressed his prior objections, including making sure lower-income children are enrolled first, and ensuring benefits are denied to illegal immigrants. The revised bill, which has been supported by prominent evangelical and Catholic leaders, health and social services providers, and child advocacy groups, passed the House with strong bipartisan support, and passed the Senate by a veto-proof margin.

Uninsured children in Virginia are almost three times more likely to have not received any medical care in the last 12 months compared to children with insurance. 190,000 more Virginians are now without health insurance compared to six years ago, while health care premiums have risen 35.8% in Virginia since 2000.

Perriello said that he will vote on the side of children and families. "The Fifth District deserves a leader who will not put the interests of the President over those of the least among us," said Perriello.

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Tom Perriello for Congress * PO Box 306 * Ivy, VA 22945 * 434-882-4163
www.perrielloforcongress.com

Comments



Tom's views (Alter of Freedom - 1/23/2008 7:45:55 PM)
Rxactly are what Tom Perriello's take on how this was to be funded in the first place. I see that he is in favor of the bill and supports overriding the veto but I do not recall him answering the queation as to why it is increasing the tax on smokers purchases justifies that only "smokers" care for children and families. Is that not what we are saying when we tax one particular group like this to pay for something WE ALL should care enough about to participate in its funding. Just curious what the justification is or rationale behind the funding. I could see tax revenue going to the overall heathcare area related to those that smokers impact but just funding SCHIP and its rationale I do not believe has been addressed by Mr. Perriello.