A New York Times blog post today lists the roll call from yesterday's house vote on the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
44 Republican representatives broke ranks and voted to override the president's veto, but Democrats still fell 13 votes short of an override.
Check to see if your representative voted in favor of providing health care for children whose parents cannot afford it.
If they did, call or send a letter thanking them. If not, let them know how you feel about their vote.
Given the widespread popularity of SCHIP, colleague Jason Lefkowitz wondered aloud yesterday if the House could come up with enough votes to approve a measure to hand out free ice cream.
Change to Win Executive Director Greg Tarpinian released the following statement after the vote:
Change to Win applauds the efforts of the Congressional Democrats and some courageous Republicans to override President Bush’s veto of legislation that would provide health care to children whose parents cannot afford it.
In failing to approve SCHIP, President Bush and his Republican allies in Congress have callously placed ideology over the health and well-being of millions of children. Those members of Congress who voted to deny health coverage to poor children will face another override vote next November, except this time working families will have the vote.