"The appalling hypocrisy of this President has reached a new low. It is disgraceful that a man who has spent half a trillion dollars on an unnecessary and tragic war, now decides to target 10 million children of working Americans by denying them healthcare coverage.

SCHIP has the overwhelming bipartisan support of this Congress, along with 43 governors and the American Medical Association. We intend to make SCHIP the law of this land, with or without the President. I call on my Republican colleagues of conscience to help us override this cruel and cynical veto."

“The Children’s Health Insurance Program is a cost-effective way to provide health care to millions of kids, and it was fiscally irresponsible of the president to veto this great program.

“The question is: why would the President veto the Children’s Health Insurance Program but support Medicare Part D? Simple. The difference between the SCHIP program and Medicare Part D is that the insurance corporations and drug companies got a cut in Medicare Part D. When big corporations stood to profit, the President had no problem expanding insurance coverage even for multi-millionaires with Medicare Part D. But when low- and modest-income families can’t afford health care for their kids, he’s willing to leave them out in the cold.

“I applaud my Republican colleagues who have stood up in support of this bill. In fact, I believe it’s telling that Senator Grassley, ranking Republican member on the Finance Committee, which was responsible for managing this bill, spoke on the floor against the President’s position. I’m hopeful that this is a sign that we will have enough support to override the President’s veto.”

Attorney General Jay Nixon today criticized Gov. Matt Blunt for supporting President Bush’s veto of a bill passed by Congress to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). If reauthorized, the program could bring insurance to more than 56,000 Missouri children who had their coverage slashed by Gov. Blunt in 2005.

“Governor Blunt opposes a program that could potentially reinstate health care for thousands of Missouri children who – because of his massive cuts – don’t have it today,” said Attorney General Jay Nixon. “We now have more than 127,000 children in our state without insurance. That is unacceptable. But instead of supporting a program which could bring coverage to thousands of those children, Matt Blunt is touting a health care plan that ignores them completely. These kids don’t have lobbyists in Jefferson City like the big insurance companies do, so it’s up to our elected leaders to stand up for their needs. It’s a shame that the Governor refuses to join me in doing so.”

Gov. Blunt’s position may come as no surprise considering the fact that, as a percentage of the population, Matt Blunt has kicked more people off S-CHIP than any other governor from June 2005 to June 2006. Following Blunt’s massive health care cuts in 2005, there are now more than 127,000 Missouri children without health insurance.

According to Families USA, more than 56,000 Missouri children could receive health insurance if S-CHIP is reauthorized. However, Gov. Blunt supported President Bush’s decision to veto that reauthorization. Missouri Senators Kit Bond (R) and Claire McCaskill (D) both voted to reauthorize S-CHIP.

Two weeks ago, Gov. Blunt announced his latest health care initiative to expand health coverage. However, the Governor’s plan does nothing to bring coverage to the more than 127,000 children in Missouri who don’t have health insurance.

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