Healthcare
Last week, the House of Representatives voted on the latest version of the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, aka SCHIP. The vote was 289 in favor, 139 against. The Representative from California's Third District, Dan Lungren, once again voted against health care for children. Joining Congo Dan in the anti-kid vote was new Fourth District Representative Tom McClintock. While neither is a surprise, both are a disappointment. Representative Jerry McNerney, our Democratic neighbor in San Joaquin County, voted in favor of reauthorizing health care for children.
"Every young child deserves quality health care. In fact, regular childhood checkups, along with early dental and vision care, are critically important to establishing healthy habits and providing health care security for children in the early stages of their lives. I was proud to cast a vote ensuring that 11 million children receive health coverage. "With rising unemployment, this children’s health bill is more critical than ever. I hope this critical bill will be one of the first bills signed into law by President Obama."
Assembly Speaker Karen Bass had this to say,
“Reauthorizing the Children’s Health Insurance Program is one of the key items California has been lobbying Congress to pass. Given the loss of jobs and health benefits so many Americans are facing, extending SCHIP is a vital safety net for California families. I applaud Speaker Pelosi and California’s congressional delegation for their leadership on this issue. I urge the Senate to quickly pass this extension so President Obama can sign it into law. In these tough times we need this health care protection for 11 million children more than ever.”