Just Say NO to Kids

Today, my US Representative, Peter Hoekstra, voted no on the S-Chip veto override. For me this vote boils down to one thing - VALUES. It sure looks like Pete values Blackwater and the defense industry. He values President Bush, even when his mismanagement of the Iraq War kills our American service people every day. It is also clear that Pete values needy children much less.

Pete and his followers can come off being pretty pious at times. They talk a lot about Christian values. I hope he takes the time to reread the words of Jesus Christ. "What you do for the least of these, you do for me."

It is time for our Congressional leaders to do more than mouth words about values while their hand is out for special interest contributions. It is time for us to elect people with real values.

I'm impressed with Scott Killips.
www.killipsforcongress.com

Why SCHIP is good for Michigan

SCHIP is known as MIChild and Healthy Kids here in Michigan. In 2006 the programs covered 118,501 children. There are still approximately 171,000 children without health care in our state. With the $50 billion additional proposed for the SCHIP reauthorization, Michigan could get $1.32 billion in funding for it's programs over the next five years.That amounts to three times the current federal funding. Funding to provide care for children who have it and cover the 171,000 who do not. In Michigan, children who's family's income is 200% above poverty ($34,340 for a three person family in 2007) are covered. According to a report by Families USA the funding would also create $528.5 million in increased business activity, $198.7 million in increased wages, and 5,941 additional jobs for Michigan from a ripple effect of spending called "economic multiplier effect".

Our Congressman Pete Hoekstra voted no on SCHIP stating in a press release that " It would be a step toward a massive expansion of government-run health care."

Maybe Pete hasn't been paying attention, but that's what most Americans want. There are 9 million children without health coverage in the United States. The SCHIP program has reduced uninsured children by 2.7 million from 1998-2005. SCHIP funding is a step in the right direction toward a goal of all children receiving health care and the ultimate goal of Universal Health Care for all.