Rep. Rogers responds to vote challenge

Staff Reports

STAFF REPORTS – On the heels of grim forecasts from several leading economists including former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan of a U.S. economic recession in 2008, Americans United for Change, a leading partner in the multi-million dollar Campaign to Save Children's Healthcare, on Friday challenged U.S. Reps. Mike Rogers and Robert Aderholt to stand up for Alabama families that will be hit hardest by the struggling economy by voting Jan. 23 to override President Bush's veto of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act.

According to Americans United for Change, the act enjoys overwhelming, bipartisan support. The legislation would mean health care for 4 million more American kids in need, including 52,400 more kids in Alabama.

On Oct. 25, the U.S. House passed the latest version the bipartisan Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, which was revised in response to the president's veto of the first bill and included strengthened language to address any and all concerns about illegal immigrants, adults and children from high-income families benefiting from the program.

Rogers and Aderholt voted against the amended version.

“Though the legislation to reauthorize and expand SCHIP has passed the House and Senate for the second time with wide bipartisan majorities, the House remains just a few votes shy of overriding the president when it comes back to the floor on Jan. 23 – and all eyes are on Mike Rogers and Robert Aderholt,” said Jeremy Funk, spokesman for Americans United. “Bush's veto couldn't come at a worse time with a recession looming and millions of families soon facing difficult economic choices. We strongly urge Rogers and Aderholt to get their priorities straight and stand up for their most vulnerable constituents – sick kids.”

Americans United claims Rogers and Aderholt felt a family of four making three times the poverty level -- or about $62,000 a year -- should easily be able to afford a private insurance plan.

On Friday afternoon Rep. Rogers addressed the attack from Americans United for Change and defended his position.

“I'm disappointed, but not entirely surprised that an outside group like this is choosing to play politics with childrens' health care in east Alabama,” he said. “ I strongly support this program, but believe the final bill should not allow the children of illegal immigrants to have access to taxpayer-paid health coverage.”

But Funk's statement insisted illegal immigrants will not benefit from the amended act.

“There is no better example of just how out of touch President Bush and his allies in Congress have gotten with the every day struggles of working families in this country,” Funk said. “We're not talking about illegal immigrants – we're not talking about adults and children from high-income families. We're talking about kids whose parents work hard but can't afford private insurance and are not disadvantaged enough to qualify for Medicaid.

“It's question of priorities, and reps. Rogers and Aderholt have theirs all mixed up. Neither has any problem voting again and again to give President Bush a blank check to police an endless civil in Iraq, yet they adamantly oppose spending a fraction of that to provide healthcare to 52,400 more kids in Alabama. The fact is, for what we spend in just one week in Iraq, 800,000 children could get health insurance for an entire year.”

“Congressman Rogers and Congressman Aderholt will have one last chance to do the right thing,” added Funk. “We understand health care is not a concern for their families – they've got the best health care plan taxpayer money can buy. But before once again voting 'no' on Jan. 23, the representatives should ask themselves one question: 'Would I still be voting against health care for millions of sick kids if it was my own kid's healthcare on the chopping block?'”