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News and Updates GMP Decries Veto Of Children's Healthcare Bill And Urges Override Although President Bush vetoed a bill to reauthorize appropriations for a program that subsidizes health coverage for millions of low-income persons, the majority of whom are children, General Minister and President Sharon E. Watkins and other leaders are optimistic that members of Congress will get the votes to override the President's veto. On Tuesday, October 2, Watkins joined members of the Sojourners/Call to Renewal Board at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., to speak in favor of the bill. She called on members of Congress to override President Bush's anticipated veto of H.R. 976, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007. Bush vetoed the bill the next day. The program is a joint state-federal effort that subsidizes health coverage for 6.6 million people, mostly children, from families earning too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private medical coverage. There are 9 million uninsured children in the U.S. The bill had passed with strong bi-partisan support. It would have added $35 billion to the program over five years and extended coverage to another 4 million children. It was to be funded by increasing the federal cigarette tax by 61 cents. In her statement delivered on Capitol Hill, Watkins noted that Disciples approved a resolution in July at the Fort Worth, Texas, General Assembly that calls on all Disciples and congregations to be advocates for children and to work to ensure health and mental health care for every child in America. "Simple human decency says no child should be left behind, Mr. President," said Watkins. "And denying health care coverage to children is leaving them behind." To read her full statement, visit: |
