Press Releases
Turnham Demands Repubs Override Veto
MONTGOMERY -- Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Joe Turnham today condemned President Bush’s veto of legislation that would have renewed the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) – which currently provides health care coverage to over 6 million children nationwide – and improve it by expanding coverage to millions more poor children. President Bush’s veto, which will prevent 52,400 uninsured children in Alabama from gaining health care, comes despite overwhelming support of the American people for expanding SCHIP. According to recent polls, 86 percent of them support reauthorizing SCHIP, with seven in ten saying they support the Democratic plan to expand SCHIP by $35 billion over five years. [Robert Wood Johnson Foundation release, 8/23/07; Washington Post, 10/2/07]
Not only have a bipartisan group of 43 governors called on President Bush to extend and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, but seven states filed lawsuits against the Bush Administration challenging proposed federal rules that would "force poor children to lose health coverage." [Associated Press, 10/01/07]
Chairman Joe Turnham called on Alabama’s five Republican House members and Senators Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby, all of whom voted against SCHIP, to stand up to President Bush and join Democrats in voting to override this veto.
“President Bush and Republicans like Jeff Sessions may think it is appropriate to turn their backs on our children, but Alabama’s Congressmen have an opportunity here to stand up for poor kids in our state,” said Turnham. Both of Alabama’s Democratic Representatives, Artur Davis and Bud Cramer, voted in favor of the bill. “Allowing President Bush’s irresponsible veto to stand means denying thousands of Alabama children the opportunity to see a doctor, receive preventative care and live healthier and happier lives. At the same time he is calling SCHIP too expensive, the President is spending roughly $10 billion a week on the war in Iraq. Republicans in Congress should get their priorities straight and have the courage to do the right thing and join Democrats in fighting for poor children.”
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