Disagreement on health care

At a time when job losses are escalating and more people are losing their health benefits, U.S. Reps Peter Roskam and Judy Biggert chose to vote against health care for children. This despite the fact that the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) reauthorization bill is paid for by a 61-cent hike in the cigarette tax. Fortunately, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation reauthorizing SCHIP by a vote of 289-139. A vote in the Senate is expected by the end of January.

SCHIP helps our most vulnerable children. This bill would cover 10 million children, including 4 million uninsured children and 6.6 million youth already covered by the program. Given the current economic climate, more families are going to fall into the cracks and risk losing their health coverage. Consequently, many children could be subject to long term health problems if they do not get the care they need now.

The expansion of SCHIP points to the critical need for national comprehensive reform that provides a guarantee of quality, affordable health care for everyone in America. It is a good thing to expand coverage now, but we have to stop the piecemeal incremental reforms. The Senate should pass the SCHIP Reauthorization, and I support President Obama's plan for health care for America now. I also hope Roskam and Biggert will begin to take the issue of providing quality, affordable health care more seriously, and think twice before casting more votes against sound health care reforms and expansion.

Lori Reiss

Glen Ellyn