News Archives
October 14, 2007
Statement by New Jersey AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech On New Jersey Republicans’ Votes Against Health Care for Children
Reps. Saxton, Frelinghuysen, Garrett
More Loyal to Bush Than New Jersey Kids
The decision by Reps. Saxton, Frelinghuysen and Garrett to side with the President in an extreme vote against New Jersey’s children is nothing short of tragic. Their votes not to override Bush’s disgraceful veto of health care for children means that 106,000 New Jersey kids who would have been able to see a doctor when they needed one will instead continue to go without the basic services they need to grow up healthy.
The votes by Saxton, Frelinghuysen and Garrett put them at odds with a bipartisan majority in both houses of Congress, which has made it clear that caring for children is not a political or economic issue. Caring for our children is a moral obligation and is a test of the greatness of our nation. These three have failed that test.
Providing health insurance to children also makes good economic sense. For many New Jersey children, coverage through SCHIP is the only chance they have to get regular check ups, or to see a doctor before an illness becomes life-threatening. Preventing health problems altogether or catching them before they get worse is a proven way to save money and studies show that the State Children’s Health Insurance Program has been a success on both counts.
There’s little doubt that Saxton, Frehinghuysen and Garrett will also side with the president when he asks for another $200 billion to support his failed war in Iraq, so it is hard to understand why they wouldn’t support spending $35 billion over six years for a proven program to keep children healthy. New Jersey working families will remember this ill-considered choice and hold these politicians accountable.