Unify for Children's Healthcare

Now would be a good time for Rep. Roskam to demonstrate his campaign-promised ability to "cross the aisle" and work with Democrats for a greater cause - the healthcare of children. At the recent meeting of Governors in Washington, DC, the governors from all the states, Democrats as well as Republicans, pleaded to President Bush to increase funding for Children's Health Insurance Plans. Comments from governors claimed that providng healthcare for children is as much a responsibility of the government as fighting terrorism, and children's healthcare should certainly take precedence over tax cuts for the nation's millionaires and billionaires. Certainly, we all have a responsibility to provide the next generation with as many possibilities for them to rach their greatest potential - and this means decent healtchcare and decent education.

But President Bush instead basically told governors that what they need to do is cut back on healthcare coverage, covering only families who make up to twice the poverty level (about $21,000 for a family of four). That's a $10/hour job, barely enough to pay the rent, let alone utilities, food and transportation. But a mimum "living wage" in Roskam's district is about $16/hour.

This is one issue that cannot be defined as a partisan or principled issue - it is one strictly of economics. The real test our congressman faces is will he join the ranks of those who will tell the president he is wrong on this issue, and that we will not stand to have our children's healthcare be sacrificed. If we are going to really win the war on terror, we must do all we can to live up to our ideals of being the land of opportunity. Eliminating healthcare for the most vulnerable - children of the economic poor - is unacceptable.