Using Lies to Give Kids the Shaft

Yesterday, the House voted 265-159 in favor of expanding the incredibly popular S-CHIIP program, thereby opening the reality of health insurance to 4 million currently uninsured kids in America. In spite of ridiculous accomodations to Senate Republicans which, for instance, forbid covering LEGAL immigrant kids until they've been in the US for 5 years, the House still could not manage the necessary 290 votes to veto-proof the bill. I spent the whole day with C-SPAN streaming over the internet while I worked and I listened, first hand, to the debate. The lies continue to be told in spite of the facts, which are well documented - lies like that the program will cover illegal immigrants kids, adults, and families making op to $83,000 per year. The Republican fear-mongers keep telling these tired old lies. Of course, the big "boogie man" is the "slippery slope" argument that this is the first step toward providing health insurance to all Americans. As if health insurance were a human right or something. Pshhaww!

Naturally, Bush wants the money spent on health insurance funneled through private insurers so the rich can keep on getting richer while sick people keep getting denied and left to die from tooth aches and such. Meanwhile he has the audacity to suggest that the Democrats are playing politics with children. When 80+% of the American people wish to see all Children covered by health insurance and there is strong bipartisan support in both houses of Congress to expand this program, then who, Sir, is paying politics with children's health. The accusation just won't stick.

The Senate is due to vote on the bill today. They will likely get 69 or more votes - enough to override a veto. But if Bush keeps his promise and vetoes kids' health, then the Senate will most likely not get to cast that veto override vote, because the veto override will come to the House first. Unless we can flip the remaining 8 Democrats who voted against the bill (likely on grounds that it excludes LEGAL immigrant kids) and 17 Republican's we will not be able to override the President's veto.

For a breakdown of who voted for and against, please click here. If your Representative voted against this, please call them and tell them you're appalled and that you'll remember this come election time.

P.S. What's up with our Representative, Diane Watson? Why did she abstain?

Comments

[Chad Stuart]

Greetings Ryan,
I have contacted my representatives here in Georgia, both of whom voted against the bill. I am sure our Senators will do the same. They are all Bushites. We'll keep praying on this and look forward to changes in the future.
Chad

[Ryan Bell]

Chad, you are awesome! Thank you so much. This really means a lot and does make a difference. It may not seem like it, but when they start getting calls and sense that the people who elected them won't stand for this kind of politics, they do pay attention!

[Wayne Jones]

Pastor Bell. You wrote down your email for me but I must have misplaced it so I am using this page to write.
Meeting with you stimulated my fantasy I had about you from seeing the Hollywood Web site.
This is interesting to me because it all happened because of my old MD friend who is my age and living in Ohio. Is that providence of what?
I have listened to two of your sermons...Dangerous Road Ahead and Who is our neighbor. I chose those two because of the Jesus/disciple emphasis.
I wrote recently to my Son in Law who has never been to church that I do not consider myself a member of a religion but do see myself a believer in the teachings of Jesus.
Your sermons on "followship" was/is a challenge to me pesonally in view of the above statement.
I plan to visit your church Sabbath and to see/meet/observe the fellowship to see how/if I will/can fit in and contribute to the fellowship/community.
Several times during your speaking I was taken back 40+ years when I and the Burbank church was involved in reading the book "Call to Commitment"..and how this book'challenge vitalized our fellowship/community.
Your speaking style reminded me of two of my collegues. Euel Atchey who was once the pastor of Burbank and the White Memorial, before Bob Zamora and Bob Milton a college classmate who was the most naturally gifted speaker among us and who left the SDA church after getting his PH.D in psychology at USC.
Euel is older than I but always looked in good health (not overweight) and unfortunately has a bad hert attach 2 yrs ago.
If he is up to it I would like to take you two to lunch,so you could meet another "old" warrior. He lives in San Diego.

When I met the SDA group I liked being called brother by men at the first campmeeting I attended. And I still like the brother and sister usage.
So I sign off,
Blessings
Brother Wayne