WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Senator John Kerry made the following statement on the vote on his amendment to boost SCHIP funding to $50 billion over 5 years – the amount originally allocated in the budget. The vote failed 36-60.


“Today 36 Senators made it clear that health care for kids is more important than more tax cuts for millionaires, and I’m proud of this fight,” Senator Kerry said. “Though our amendment fell short, we must work together to deliver the $35 billion in SCHIP funding.  President Bush has made his priorities clear. He’d rather veto kids’ health care and try to spin outdated ideological arguments about government health care. He’s wrong.  The nine million children in our country living without health care deserve more from their President and his Republican allies in Congress than tired political games. It’s past time for Senators do the right thing and vote to fund SCHIP.”

 

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