(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) issued the following statement after President Bush vetoed the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for a second time this year. The bill he vetoed is a compromise version which addressed many of his original objections. The CHIP bill would have provided coverage for 4 million more American children. It passed the Senate early last month by a vote of 64-30.
"President Bush left a lump of coal in the stockings of America’s kids this holiday season. By vetoing the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for a second time, he has said no to America’s children and no to a bi-partisan majority of Congress.
"This President has made it clear that he would rather pander to his dwindling base than address the needs of American families. It’s time for him to explain to millions of parents across this country why their kids won’t have the care they need to have a healthy start to life. It’s time for him to explain to these families why next year they will remain one bike accident away from bankruptcy."
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