On August 1, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to reauthorize and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP). I would like to applaud the members of the House who voted in favor of the bill. Unfortunately, Rep. Kenny Hulshof was not one of them.
What kind of a message is Hulshof sending to Missouri families by voting against funding health care for children, when he has no trouble finding billions of dollars to fund a disastrous war with Iraq? It is a matter of values, plain and simple.
Let’s look at the facts. The SCHIP program provided health coverage for six million children in 2006. Under the new bill, an additional 5 million children will be eligible for coverage through this program, for a total of 11 million children.
It is unfortunate that anyone would oppose providing health care for children out of blind loyalty to President Bush, who has threatened to veto the legislation. Considering that every representative and their families get free health care, do Missouri’s uninsured children deserve any less? I am certain my fellow constituents will join me in sending that message to Rep. Hulshof in November 2008.