NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday September 27, 2007
McCain, Shadegg proud to deny health care to Arizona kids
of S-CHIP program to insure poor children
Even while Arizona Democrats work round-the-clock to save a federal health insurance program for kids, Sen. John McCain and Rep. John Shadegg continue to stubbornly back President Bush, who is expected to veto a bipartisan agreement.
Earlier this week, the U.S. House and Senate struck a bipartisan agreement to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Program, which covers more than 65,000 Arizona children through the KidsCare program. The vote would expand eligibility to insure 82,600 new Arizona children by 2012. There are more than 250,000 uninsured children in Arizona.
“Denying or delaying health insurance for children is reprehensible,” said Maria Weeg, executive director of the Arizona Democratic Party. “But McCain, Shadegg and Bush seem to think they can play political games with children’s healthcare, like when they can see the doctor and if they get the medicine they need.”
Arizona’s own senator and Republican presidential candidate John McCain would rather see children go without much needed health care coverage. During an August debate, McCain agreed with the entire field of Republican presidential candidates who sided “with President Bush and against the proposed expansion of the federally funded children’s health insurance program.” (Washington Times, 8/6/07)
McCain voted against the reauthorization of S-CHIP and has yet to denounce the Bush Administration, which according to several news reports, took the unusual step of warning states they could no longer enroll children in federally funded S-CHIP without first verifying that those children have gone at least one full year without health care coverage. (Washington Post, 8/21/07)
“John McCain, John Shadegg and the members of the Republican Congressional delegation owe Arizona voters an explanation for their stubborn opposition to this vital program, and explain if they agree with the Bush Administration that children should have to spend an entire year without health care coverage before even becoming eligible,” said Maria Weeg, executive director of the Arizona Democratic Party. “Arizona voters deserve to know, are McCain and Shadegg with our children, or are they against them? Arizona voters deserve leaders who understand: No child should have to go a day without health care, let alone a full year.”
For his part, Shadegg called the program a “fraud” on the floor of Congress. “The American people are generous to a fault,” Shadegg said Tuesday. (Cong. Rec. 25 Sept. 2007: H10873)
Shadegg, McCain, Sen. Jon Kyl, Rep. Trent Franks and Rep. Jeff Flake all voted against expanding the program.