Maryland Democrats Condemn Bush’s SCHIP Veto - Invite GOP Rep. Roscoe Bartlett to vote for Override

Maryland Democrats Condemn Bush’s SCHIP Veto

MD Dems Invite GOP Rep. Bartlett to  

“Stand up to Bush’s SCHIP veto or stand alone against children in need.”

Annapolis, MD – Maryland Democratic Party Executive Director, Quincey Gamble today condemned President Bush’s veto of legislation that would have renewed the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and improve it by expanding coverage for more children in Maryland. Gamble called on the lone Maryland congressman who voted against the SCHIP authorization – Republican Congressman Roscoe Bartlett – to join the strong bipartisan majority and vote to override the Bush veto.

“We’re asking Congressman Bartlett to think of the children who have no health coverage in his own district, some of the 42,000 needy children across Maryland who will qualify for health care under SCHIP,” said Quincey Gamble. “This is one of the important issues where the majority of Democrats and Republicans find overwhelming agreement. Congressman Bartlett should know this is a great time to re-think his position and vote for the kids, not the White House. Congressman, you can’t possibly agree with George Bush when he says our children aren’t worth it.”

Not only have 43 bipartisan governors called on President Bush to extend and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, but seven states including Maryland have filed lawsuits against the Bush Administration challenging proposed federal rules that would "force poor children to lose health coverage." [Associated Press, 10/01/07]

According to recent polls, 86 percent of the American people 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] 

“President Bush and the Republican candidates trying to replace him may think it makes sense to turn their backs on Maryland’s children, but Representative Bartlett has an opportunity to stand up for kids in the Old Line State,” said Gamble.  “It is unconscionable that President Bush could state that we can not afford to provide health care for America’s children as he continues to ask Congress for hundreds of billions of dollars for an unpopular war in Iraq and the unnecessary tax giveaway to the rich.”