Writer's all wrong about Mark Kirk

This is in response to a letter written by Chet Farley regarding U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk's vote on the Children's Health Insurance (SCHIP).

This letter appeared in the Dec. 7 edition of the Daily Herald. The writer has taken liberties with the facts.

Congressman Kirk actively supported and voted for the bipartisan bill that passed the U.S. House and Senate. Then Congressman Mark Kirk voted to override President Bush's veto of this legislation.

The assertion in the letter that "Mark Kirk continues to misrepresent his constituents" is just plain wrong.

Congressman Kirk represents us in a thoughtful and independent manner that all to often is lacking in Washington.

The first SCHIP bill was deeply flawed. It pitted the needs of seniors on Medicare against the needs of poor children. This bill, in its original form cut Medicare funding for wheel chairs, oxygen and kidney care. Congressman Kirk and many of his colleagues in both parties could not abide by this funding conflict.

The SCHIP legislation was revised with bipartisan support so that both seniors and children would receive the benefits they so desperately need.

Congressman Kirk joined with Democrats and other moderate Republicans and wholeheartedly supported this legislation.

The last part of the letter claimed erroneously that a procedural vote prevented more Republicans and Democrats from coming on board to support this legislation. Again, this is just wrong.

Let's remember that the Democrats control both the U.S. House of Representatives and United States Senate. They have the ability to control procedural votes -- not the Republican minority.

As a legislator who has consistently fought for the rights of seniors and children in our district and the nation, Mark Kirk voted for the SCHIP bill that would guarantee both these very vulnerable groups would be protected under this new health care legislation.

Michael Morgan

Deerfield