Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007--Veto Message from the President of the United States

CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007--VETO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (H. DOC. NO. 110-80) -- (House of Representatives - December 12, 2007)

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Mr. DOGGETT. Let's be very clear about what is being postponed and who is doing the postponing. When this President exercised his second veto, he postponed our desire to see that children get the health care that they need. And tonight, when Republicans in this House and their nicotine-peddler allies stand in the way of the door at the doctor's office, millions of children are denied the care that they deserve.

This President's holiday season veto of our efforts to aid these ailing children is neither sound fiscal policy nor good medicine. And for the President to make the incredible statement that the children of the working poor should ``just go to the emergency room,'' that is neither compassionate nor conservative. With his ideological blinders, he just doesn't seem to see the children of the working poor who are up all night with an aching ear, an abscessed tooth, or can't get antibiotics for strep throat. Those are the challenges working families face who do not have access to health care.

A healthy body, like an educated mind, is an opportunity that all of our children should be permitted to share. For as long as the President and a minority of this House stand between children and the lifesaving, pain-reducing care that they need, we will work to overcome their intransigence, whether it takes one time in January or another time thereafter. We cannot yield to those who would block our children from the care they need.

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