Kerry: Bush declares war on bipartisan bill to provide health insurance to children

[ProSense]

Bush declares war on bipartisan bill to provide health insurance to children

By Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.)
September 26, 2007

Four days from now, a wildly successful effort to provide healthcare to 6 million low-income children will disappear.

This summer, in a rare moment of bipartisanship, Democrats and Republicans in Congress came together to expand the State Children’s Insurance Program (known as SCHIP) to provide healthcare to millions more children. It was a simple test of priorities, and both sides agreed to put kids first.

Unfortunately, President Bush has chosen a different course. He is putting ideology and political confrontation ahead of the health of our nation’s children, has unilaterally declared war on SCHIP, and is threatening to veto the bipartisan bill.

If the president follows through on his threat, his stubbornness will carry a serious price for American families. Health insurance for millions of children is on the line, and we know what happens when children lack access to proper care: Minor conditions become costly chronic diseases and preventable illnesses can even claim the greatest cost — the life of a child.

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[monktonman]

1. who is this John Kerry guy anyway?

and why is he important???

[ProSense]

2. It's posted at the end of the article.

Kerry is chairman of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee and a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Finance, committees.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[wisteria]

9. Senator Kerry is one of the most important and influential leaders of our time.

Senator Kerry is a unique politician who believes in the people of this country, listens to them and fights on their behalf. He has something rare in Washington- integrity.

[monktonman]

10. you had me up until "fights on their behalf"

I guess he just didnt want to be president
and we pushed him into it.

He had one chance to change everything and he choked.

[wisteria]

11. That is your perspective, mine is different. And, don't ever think he did not want to be President.

I read that election differently. I see disenfranchisement, lies and fear as the reasons why Senator Kerry is not President now. There was nothing to contest right after the election in 04, and our party would not have backed him if he tried. He would have had no one with him except bloggers. The media, the Dem party, Repub party and the public would have made any attempts to fight the result impossible. What he tried to accomplish no man has done- unseat a war time president. Senator Kerry came closer than any candidate in our nation's history to unseating a war time president. I doubt no one was more devastated than Kerry over the outcome and would have fought for it if he could have.

[Spinzonner]

3. Part of his No (non-rich) Child Left Healthy program

[beachmom]

5. I still remember this was the first thing he fought for post-2004 election.

He never gave up, and kept fighting for great causes like this one. Thanks, Prosense, for this article.

[LittleClarkie]

7. And he's thisclose to seeing it through

and Bush is standing in the way.

And just because it's Kerry who's pushing it, some people think it's a big joke. Sad, really.

[Supersedeas]

14. if ever there was a real wedge issue to draw stark distinctions

[politicasista]

6. K&R

:kick:

[BlueIris]

8. Ditto. nt

[wisteria]

12. Bush will be perceived as a real jerk for this veto. How could he not want to see our nation's kid's

receive the health care they need in order to get off to a good start in life. Compared to the costs of this mess in Iraq, it would be a small price to pay to insure all children receive proper medical care.

[ProSense]

13. Kick! n/t