Override the veto

The following letter has been sent to the Republican U.S. Representative of our district:

The Hon. Peter Roskam
507 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

October 6, 2007

Dear Rep. Roskam:

The purpose of this letter is to urge you to vote in favor of overriding Pres. Bush’s callous veto of the child health care bill (SCHIP). The justifications for the veto that have been offered are specious at best:

- The bill does not in any way represent a significant step toward so-called socialized medicine. It is no more than an incremental increase in an existing bill that has widespread bi-partisan support and that will bring necessary healthcare coverage to children who do not now have it.

- This bill is not a “budget buster.” The cost for five years of this bill is approximately the same as we currently spend in a few months in Iraq. What’s more, the bill is for all intents and purposes self-paying, since it includes a tax increase on cigarettes to cover it.

Finally, we would also share with you how dismayed we were at Pres. Bush’s flip remark to a reporter to the effect that the children who would be covered by this bill “already have healthcare, it’s called the emergency room.” First, it certainly doesn’t seem to be consistent with the president’s professed Christian values, which teaches us to care for those less fortunate. What’s more, it further demonstrates an appalling lack of concern for those of use who do pay for our healthcare insurance. Visits by uninsured families to the emergency room have to be paid for by someone, that “someone” turns out of be us in higher healthcare insurance rates.

Sincerely,


Mr. & Mrs. David F. Ramacitti