1199SEIU Launches Upstate New York Campaign for Kids' Healthcare

As part of a nationwide effort to win healthcare for nearly 10 million children, 1199SEIU has launched an advertising campaign urging Congress to override President Bush’s veto of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).  The vetoed legislation had the overwhelming support of both Democrats and Republicans in Congress and every Governor in the country. 

1199SEIU’s television spots will focus on two upstate New York members of Congress, Randy Kuhl (R-29) and Thomas Reynolds, (R-26) who voted against the SCHIP legislation. The TV advertisements urge them to change their position when the veto override comes before Congress on October 18.

“Reps. Randy Kuhl and Tom Reynolds must join the rest of New York's congressional delegation and many of their colleagues on both sides of the aisle in voting to override this veto. American children deserve to have access to health care,” said 1199SEIU President George Gresham.

“Congress must make a stand and send a message that even one child lacking healthcare coverage is one child too many.  They must override President Bush’s veto against healthcare for kids, or they will have to answer to the American people.”

An ABC News/Washington Post poll in late September found that 72 percent of Americans support the bipartisan SCHIP bill passed by Congress. In spite of all this, the president and his supporters decided to ignore moral obligations and stick to their political guns.