Washington, DC - One of the leading voices in the Congress on children and family issues, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) today railed against the President’s veto of health care coverage for 10 million children (including over 600,000 in California), as she joined 272 of her colleagues in voting to over-turn his veto.  The SCHIP legislation, which was passed with overwhelming bi-partisan support earlier in the month, also included language drafted by Woolsey to provide job protection for family members caring for injured service members.

“It’s unconscionable that President Bush and his Republican allies can’t get their priorities in order, and have turned their backs not only on 10 million children, but also our veterans,” Woolsey said.  “The President’s veto of this legislation, and his Republican allies’ blind stubbornness in supporting him, shows just how out of touch they are with the rest of the country.

The SCHIP legislation also included language from H.R. 3481 Woolsey’s Support for Injured Servicemembers Act, which would extend the Family and Medical Leave Act to provide six months of job protected leave for family members caring for injured service members.  While the President has attempted to highlight the cost of the SCHIP program, Woolsey was quick to dismiss his claims of fiscal responsibility in the wake of increasing costs associated with occupation of Iraq:

“President Bush has made the preposterous claim that providing health care coverage to 10 million children is too expensive,” Woolsey said.  “But currently, we're spending about $14 million dollars per hour on the occupation of Iraq.  That means we could provide medical, dental, and mental health care to more than 10,000 low-income children for the cost of just one single hour in Iraq.

“The President's priorities are clear: Unlimited money for an occupation, no money for kids.  It’s a disgrace.”