Dennis and His Progressive "Screw You" Salute to Ohio's Children

SCHIP, the state children's health insurance plan, just passed the House. Regrettably the roll call fell to 265 to 159...25 votes shy of the veto proof majority Democrats needed to pick up to shut down President Bush's threats. Eleven members of the House did not vote (and I haven't seen a roll call vote yet, so I don't know who those are). However, one Ohio member made a very special vote.

Dennis Kucinich voted no on SCHIP
I'd wager he might be the only Democrat to oppose the program.

The current SCHIP program in place expires in five days on September 30th. While both the House and Senate (the Senate will pass this version later this week. At last count 68 Senators were on board) have passed the bill that went through tonight, President Bush has promised to use SCHIP for a good 'ole, rip roarin veto fest (yeehaw). He hates the children, dontch'a know? Anyways, the jist of the matter is that tonight, Dennis' vote was immensely important seeing as next week plenty of kids won't be able to visit their doctors. Instead of standing by Ohio, our Children, and his district, Kucinich took the high road to presidential wannabe candy land, and played politics with children's health.

And DK's reason for the no vote?

“I cannot support legislation which extends health coverage to some children while openly denying it to other children,” Kucinich said. “This legislation is woefully inadequate: and I will not support it.

“Legal immigrant children deserve the same quality health care as other children receive. It is Congress’ responsibility to address the main difficulties that prevent legal immigrant children from gaining access to health care. Today, we did exactly the opposite.

“HR 676 guarantees full health care coverage for all children. When considering a universal health care proposal, HR 676, the Medicare for All bill, is the only health care plan that addresses three important issues: quality, accessibility, and cost. HR 676 stands alone in an increasingly crowded field of efforts to provide health care coverage to all,” Kucinich said.

I know someone else who's standing alone tonight. I'm ashamed to have Dennis Kucinich in my party. We needed him tonight, and he let us down, again.

UPDATE:

From the Palmer campaign:

I was appalled by Congressman Kucinich’s vote against the State Children’s Health Insurance Program on the House floor tonight. This bill would have expanded an already successful program to provide health insurance to millions of children across the country. It takes some twisted logic for someone who claims to support health care coverage for all to oppose this necessary and overdue move in the right direction.

On one hand, President Bush vows to veto the bill, and on the other, Dennis Kucinich votes against it because he doesn’t think it is perfect. This is a perfect example of what is presently wrong with Washington decision-making. Polarizing positions work against functional compromise resulting in a government that cannot serve in the nation’s best interest. While fringe politicians like President Bush and Congressman Kucinich rant like petulant children, the nation remains stagnant and desperately needing effective leadership. Unfortunately, children in Northeast Ohio and around the country will pay the price for their obstinate actions.