Ukiah Daily Journal

By ZACK SAMPSEL The Daily Journal
Ukiah Daily Journal

Article Last Updated:10/15/2007 08:31:24 AM PDT

Following President George Bush's veto last week of the bipartisan bill known as the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), members of the State Democratic Legislative Women's Caucus are urging their counterparts in Washington to override the veto of the bill which was designed, in part, to continue expanding California's Healthy Families program.

The widespread effects of the veto have yet to felt in Menodcino County, but according to Healthy Kids Mendocino (HKM), coverage problems could begin in as little as nine months for the 2,200 children HKM currently helps. HKM is a public, private partnership with a goal of providing health care to every child in Mendocino County.

"Here in California we are working to expand healthcare, we are working to make life better for our children and for our economy," said Sen. Patty Berg, D-Eureka. "But President Bush seems determined to go in the opposite direction."

The chair and vice-chair of the Legislative Women's Caucus addressed their letter to the Congressional Women's Caucus and urged support for the effort to override President Bush's veto of the bill that would renew and expand the program.

Berg is chair of the California Legislative Women's Caucus. In March, she went to the nation's Capitol to urge federal lawmakers to expand health insurance for all children. It has also been a goal of the caucus to provide health insurance for all of California's children.

Although the veto of the bill immediately limited the chance for expansion of California's Healthy Families program, HKM has remained optimistic it will continue to offer health coverage to Mendocino County families and children.

Last week, Megan Van Sant, program director for HKM, urged families to continue enrolling at HKM explaining that there are still resources available, and HKM will continue to help find coverage for area children.

To continue following the fate of the SCHIP bill please visit Rep. John Dingell's Web site at www.house.gov/dingell/ or visit Sen. Hilary Rodham Clinton's Web site at http://clinton.senate.gov.