I hope you're happy Joe. How many children will die because of your callousness?

This story makes me literally sick to my stomach, that the Democrats pass legislation extending health care to millions of children and Joe Knollenberg and his Republican colleagues vote the legislation down and then don't have the courage to override the President's veto of this important and life-saving program. What kind of country is this anyway, that leaves children without health care coverage? Pro-life my ass. Joe Knollenberg and the Republicans that voted against this bill are hypocrites of the worst variety.

Democrats Suffer Loss as House Extends SCHIP

by Julie Rovner

Listen Now and read the rest of the story [3 min 33 sec] add to playlist

All Things Considered, December 19, 2007 · The Democratic-led Congress on Wednesday officially waved the white flag of surrender on its top domestic issue: the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP. Eleven months and two presidential vetoes after vowing to expand its reach, the House instead passed and sent to President Bush a bill that will essentially continue the program in its current form until 2009.

SCHIP covered on PBS Puts a Human Face on the Lack of Funding

While President Bush and Republicans like Joe Knollenberg try to explain away why they won't vote to extend the State Children's Health Insurance Program real children with real health problems go without health care coverage and some will die.

CLICK HERE to watch NOW on PBS report on the crisis in children's health care.

I hope everyone in Joe Knollenberg's office will watch this report. I know you're watching this blog, so make good use of your time.

Oakland Press - Knollenberg got it wrong on SCHIP

This is the Oakland Press version of my guest opinion about Joe Knollenberg's opposition to the SCHIP bill. It's been edited since I wrote it, but you get the point.

Trent Wisecup Bullying a Constituent

Keith Olbermann Covers Trent Wisecup's Outburst in Rochester

Joe Knollenberg to Michigan's Children: DROP DEAD!

Joe Knollenberg has picked up a really bad habit from George W. Bush, LYING! He is incapable of telling the truth. The guest opinion piece in Wednesday's Oakland Press, is outrageous in the number of lies. Here's Joe's version of why he's not supporting expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The truth is below the lies. Even several of Joe's fellow Republican colleagues are speaking out on providing health care to children.
Lie 1: The bill opens the door for illegal immigrants to receive benefits.

Reality: The latest version of the SCHIP bill specifically excludes illegal aliens from receiving benefits under the provisions of the bill.

Lie 2: The bill is paid for by 22 million new smokers.

Reality: The bill is paid for by raising the tobacco tax by 61 cents a pack. The higher the cost of cigarettes, the less likely kids will take up smoking. According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a 61-cent increase in the tobacco tax means that 1,873,000 fewer children will take up smoking. Furthermore, the vast majority of Members of the House and Senate – both Democratic and Republican – are on record in favor of raising tobacco taxes. In August, all but 4 House Republicans voted for the GOP motion to recommit that included an increase of 45 cents a pack in the tobacco tax.

Lie 3: The bill would expand coverage to 700,000 adults.

Reality: The SCHIP program focuses virtually all of its resources on children in the poorest of working families – fewer than 1 in 10 children covered under SCHIP lives in a family of four earning more than $41,000 a year. This is how the program will remain under the bill.

This bipartisan bill places the priority on children’s coverage – and therefore PHASES OUT the coverage of parents and childless adults entirely over a two-year period (there are currently about 600,000 of these adults covered under SCHIP). Only optional coverage for pregnant women remains under the bill.

SCHIP has broad bi-partisan support and Joe Knollenberg is out of step with many of his Republican colleagues.

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa)“[This bill] breaks the legislative impasse and should have strong support from both Democrats and Republicans. The bill will enable the Children’s Health Insurance Program to help cover millions more low-income children.”

[Joint press release, 9/21/07]Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Iowa)“I have been fighting for legislation that will not only continue the CHIP program, but also cover more low-income kids who are eligible for CHIP. Today, we are unveiling our bipartisan compromise that accomplishes those two very important goals. Our proposal is an honest compromise which improves a program that works for America’s low-income children.”

[Joint press release, 9/21/07]Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.)“I grew up with acute asthma, and I know personally how important it is for kids to have access to affordable health care. This bill will continue to provide health care coverage to millions of children who otherwise would be uninsured."

Democrats launch radio ad against Knollenberg on SCHIP

CLICK HERE to listen to the ad that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has launched in Joe Knollenberg's district criticizing him for his vote against the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

Trent Wisecup Rant Covered by Fox 2 News

Fox 2 News in Detroit also covered Trent Wisecup's rant in Rochester last weekend.

Health Care, Not Warfare Rally 10/4

About 60 people gathered at Joe Knollenberg's campaign office on Telegraph to urge Joe to change his vote and help override the President's veto on the SCHIP bill.

Reverend Rich Peacock urges Joe Knollenberg to change his vote on SCHIP.

Elizabeth Chenard urges Joe to do the right thing.

No More Photo Ops for Joe

Kids Warn Conservatives: No More Photo Ops
President Bush has vetoed expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program to cover 10 million kids, even though the government program is a proven success with broad bipartisan support. Bush is expecting House conservatives to sustain his veto. But kids have a message for them: You want us in your photo ops? You better vote for our health care.

Watch the video here. Then, send your own message to your Representative in the House: stand up for our kids, stand up to George Bush, and override the veto.

To learn the facts and counter the spin about SCHIP, click here.



Send Joe a message. Click here.