DC Rallies for Kids Healthcare

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, SEIU Healthcare Chair Dennis Rivera and hundreds of activists, parents and children gathered Tuesday evening on Capitol Hill for a rally demanding Congress override President Bush’s veto of healthcare for kids. “Nearly 10 million of our children can’t see a doctor when they need one,” said Sweeney. “The House of Representatives must override the President’s extreme, disgraceful veto because it makes economic sense, because it makes political sense, but most of all because it’s the right thing to do,” Sweeney added. "Across this nation, people are raising their voices, proclaiming that kids should be able to see the doctor, regardless of whether their parents can afford health insurance," said SEIU Healthcare Chair Dennis Rivera.  "Now it's time that our leaders in Congress got the message." The rally was one of hundreds of events planned across the nation this week to pressure Congress to override President Bush's veto of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bill. The bill covers more than 6 million children and would also extend coverage to 4 million more uninsured children, reports Mike Hall of the AFL-CIO Now Blog. Both the House and Senate approved the bill, "but the 265–159 House vote fell two dozen short of the two-thirds majority needed to override Bush’s veto," Hall reports. A House vote is expected this week. Click here to read Hall's full story. For info on taking action, click here.