Bachmann, Kline: No to Children’s Healthcare Once Again
01/23/2008
Bachmann, Kline: No to Children’s Healthcare Once AgainDFL Party, Congressional Candidates Denounce Bachmann and Kline’s Votes to Uphold Bush’s SCHIP Veto
St. Paul, MN (January 23, 2008) Representatives Michele Bachmann and John Kline voted today for the fifth time to deny 30,000 uninsured Minnesota children access to affordable healthcare, by voting to uphold President Bush’s second veto of the renewal and expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
In response, the four candidates for DFL endorsement in the Second and Sixth Congressional Districts joined with the DFL Party to denounce Bachmann and Kline for consistently putting the Republican Party line before the needs of Minnesota families.
“Michele Bachmann has proven that her out-of-touch and mean-spirited agenda has no room for working families,” said Sixth Congressional District DFL candidate Bob Olson. “That she continues to put the president's political demands ahead of the needs of poor children is absolutely shameful.”
Dan Powers, who is running as a DFLer in the Second District said, “Once again partisan politics comes before children. When will our children matter enough for the Republicans? Programs like an expanded SCHIP can really make a positive difference for families in the long term. Kline’s fifth vote against it is one more reason to vote for change in the Second District.”
“Good people in our country disagree about exactly how to fix our country's broken healthcare system,” said Steve Sarvi, Second District DFL candidate. “But most Americans agree that we should be able to take care of our children. By voting not to override President Bush's veto, Representative Kline has once again failed to act in the interest of the people he is supposed to represent. The Second District simply can't handle another two years without an advocate in Congress.”
“It’s a sad day when Republicans block a much-needed initiative for millions of families who are experiencing the reality of the healthcare crisis in America,” said Sixth Congressional District DFL candidate Elwyn Tinklenberg. “Michele Bachmann voted to uphold the president's veto despite her claim to support ‘family values.’ For her, supporting the president meant abandoning our children.”
“Minnesotans are ready for change — they are ready for real leadership that puts our children and families first,” said Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez. “But Michele Bachmann and John Kline just don’t get it: over and over again they’ve put corporate special interests and blind partisanship ahead of the interests of Minnesota children and families.”
Bachmann and Kline Say “No” to Children’s Healthcare Once Again:
Bachmann, Kline Vote to Uphold Second Bush Veto of SCHIP. All five of Minnesota’s DFL representatives in the House of Representatives voted to override the president’s veto, as did Republican Representative Jim Ramstad. The veto-override attempt failed to garner the necessary two-thirds majority. All but one of the 152 votes to sustain the president’s veto were cast by Republicans. [Vote #22, 1/23/08]
Legislation Would Insure Additional Four Million Children Nationwide. “The legislation that Bush vetoed would have increased enrollment in the children's health program from 6 million to 10 million over the coming five years. The revenue needed for that enrollment increase would come from a 61-cent increase in the federal excise tax on a pack of cigarettes, as well as comparable tax increases on other tobacco products … In December, Bush for a second time vetoed a bill that would more than double spending on SCHIP … The president vetoed a similar bill in October.” [AP, 1/23/08]
Bachmann, Kline Voted Four Times in 2007 Against Improved Health Care for America’s Children. The legislation would have extended health coverage to over four million additional people, in addition to the 6.6 million already enrolled. The October 18, 2007 vote was to sustain President Bush’s first veto of the bill. [Vote #1009, 10/25/07; Vote #982, 10/18/07; Vote # 906, 9/25/07; Vote #787, 8/1/07; Washington Post, 10/3/07, 10/25/07].
SCHIP Legislation Would Allow 30,000 Uninsured Minnesota Children to Obtain Health Insurance. It’s estimated that Minnesota currently has almost 80,000 uninsured children. [Families USA, 9/25/07; Children’s Defense Fund—Minnesota, 2007]