BUSH: 190 Billion for WAR: Yes - 35 Billion for Healthy Children: NO

Congress is poised to give Bush 190 Billion more for his bungled war in Iraq. Bush of course will sign it to prolong his bloodbath in Baghdad. Meanwhile here at home, there are approximately 9 million uninsured CHILDREN in the United States. George W. Bush has vowed to VETO any funding that will help insure these children.

As a result of SCHIP, the number of uninsured low-income children has fallen significantly, but a substantial share of this progress will be undone if SCHIP funding is Vetoed by Bush.

Due in large part to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the percentage of low-income children in the United States without health coverage has fallen by one-third since SCHIP was created in 1997, despite the erosion of private health coverage over this period. More than 4 million low-income children, most of whom would otherwise be uninsured, are enrolled in SCHIP.

This remarkable success, however, is now threatened. Unlike Medicaid, an entitlement program whose federal funding increases automatically to compensate for increases in health-care costs (as well as increases in caseloads), SCHIP is a block grant with a fixed annual funding level. Consequently, the federal SCHIP funding that states receive has not been keeping pace with the rising cost of health care or population growth.

If Bush Vetoes SCHIP, funding will be frozen at its 2007 level and states will face a shortfall of $12.3 billion to $13.4 billion for 2008-2012.

If SCHIP funding is frozen, 20 states will face a shortfall in 2008 equivalent to the average, annual cost of covering up to 940,000 children. In 2012, some 36 states will face a shortfall equivalent to the average, annual cost of covering up to 1.9 million children.

A new Washington Post - ABC News Poll indicates that 7 out of 10 Americans support an increase to SCHIP. The same poll indicates a vast majority of Americans want Congress to cut funding to the Bush war effort.

Clearly Bush is out of step with the wishes of the American people.

Children's health matters in America. Access to affordable care is especially important to the vulnerable children who live in low-income families in our great country. As a Catholics who believe in the Common Good we believe all children have the right to adequate and affordable health care. What does George W. Bush believe in?