Bush Administration Moves to Keep Nebraska’s Kids Uninsured
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2007
Contact: Eric Fought
(402) 434-2184
eric@nebraskademocrats.org
Bush Administration Moves to Keep Nebraska’s Kids Uninsured
LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Democratic Party Executive Director Matt Connealy today called on Chuck Hagel, Jeff Fortenberry, Adrian Smith and Lee Terry to stand up to President Bush and his Republican allies who are making it harder for states to enroll children into the state children’s health program, which currently provides health care coverage to over 6 million children nationwide. The Washington Post and New York Times reported today that under a new Bush Administration policy directive, states “must first ensure that the child is uninsured for at least one year” prior to enrolling a child in a state children’s health program, and have to prove “that at least 95 percent of children from families making less than 200 percent of the poverty level have been enrolled in the children’s health insurance program or Medicaid,” which as the Washington Post notes, “no state has yet managed.” [Washington Post, 8/21/07] The New York Times cited testimony from state officials who made it clear the Bush policy “could cripple their efforts to cover more children and would impose standards that could not be met.” [New York Times, 8/21/07]
Today there are 45,000 children enrolled in Nebraska’s Kids Connection program and getting the health care they deserve so that they can lead healthy and productive lives. Last month, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson voted to renew the state children’s health insurance program and improve it to make coverage available for more children in middle income families in Nebraska. The Bush Administration’s new policies follow a presidential veto threat of the renewal of the program, and will have a chilling effect on states trying to provide coverage to more children who would qualify for coverage under the new Democratic legislation.
“Our children should not go one day without health care, let alone one year,” said Matt Connealy, Executive Director of the Nebraska Democratic Party. “The American people deserve leaders who understand the importance of getting children the health care they need when they need it. Republicans like Hagel, Fortenberry, Terry and Smith need to stop playing politics with our children’s health and stand up to President Bush and his threats to block much needed health care coverage for our children. During last year’s election, Democrats promised to stand up for America’s families, and they’re keeping that promise. The time has come for Bush Republicans to stop standing with the President and join Democrats in fighting for the people and children of Nebraska.”