Barack Obama: Obama Statement on President Bush’s Threat to Oppose Expansion of State Children’s Health Insurance Program

July 11, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement on President’s Bush’s threat to oppose the expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program:

“President Bush’s threat to punish the millions of children and families who lack health care coverage is simply unconscionable. The 9 million uninsured children in America are 10 times more likely to be denied the medical care they need than those who are insured. A third of uninsured children will go a full year without any medical care at all.”

“The SCHIP program is a safety net for our nation’s most vulnerable population, and Congress has worked in a bipartisan way to reauthorize this program that has effectively covered children who would otherwise have nothing. Under President Bush, the number of uninsured and health care costs have both increased. We must not allow the President to lead us further down a path that provides health care coverage only to wealthy Americans who can already afford care, while leaving the rest to fend for themselves. All children should have health coverage so they can get the care they need, when they need it.”

Source: Senator Barack Obama