Local advocates for children’s health hope for override of president’s veto (SLO, CA)

One of our best local reporters takes a look at SCHIP

Local advocates for children’s health hope for override of president’s veto
by Sarah Arnquist

President Bush’s veto last week of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program reauthorization bill disappointed local children’s health advocates, who now hope that Congress will override the veto. Without a significant funding increase, some of the 4,700 children in San Luis Obispo County insured by SCHIP could lose their coverage next year, said Kena Burke, director of the Children’s Health Initiative of San Luis Obispo County.

“I cannot believe that (Bush) would not recognize the value of this very successful program over the last 10 years,” Burke said. “It goes against everything we have been working for in terms of keeping children healthy.”

Most Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, say they support reauthorizing SCHIP, but the $35 billion funding increase called for by Democrats is too much.

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"Seeing children fall off the insurance rolls would be disappointing," said Rene Bravo, a San Luis Obispo pediatrician and prominent Republican. Research shows that children with insurance are healthier because they have access to health care, he said.

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http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/v-print/story/161821.html

kevinmccarthy@house.gov