Washington, Jan 23, 2008 -

U.S. Congressman John Carter (TX-31), House Republican Conference Secretary, issued the following statement today after he voted to sustain the President’s veto on the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

“The Democrats SCHIP bill is a bad bill that expands a program intended to cover poor children to include adults and in some states children in families who earn four times the poverty level.  The bill also loosens previous citizenship requirements making it easier for illegal aliens to receive American taxpayer funded healthcare.  I believe we should focus on providing poor children with health insurance first.  Now that the veto has been sustained, I hope we can work in a bi-partisan manner on a compromise that will ensure America’s most vulnerable get the coverage they need.”