Hey Kossacks,
Yesterday, DFA launched a campaign to stop the changes to SCHIP. We had tremendous success calling Governors and demanding that they stand up to George Bush and oppose his changes to the SCHIP program.
Rivko in Arizona:
I was told that many many other calls had come in the same topic. Later in the afternoon I heard on the news that she condemned Bush's action!!
After hundreds of calls, we saw immediate results when Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano blasted the President's changes
"To me, the people of the United States, the people of Arizona are saying we want to figure out how to get more children into health care and health insurance, not fewer," said Napolitano, at a press briefing. "And yet the only health care issue we hear coming out of the White House is how do you keep cutting kids on health care."
Now, it's time to ramp up the pressure even further. Join DFA members and keep the calls coming today!
George Bush did it again. He sided with insurance and drug company profits over the health and well-being of our nation’s Children. Last Friday night, the Bush administration released a letter to state health officials that effectively eliminated health insurance coverage for millions of American kids. This underhanded one-size-fits-all cutback limits Vermont's ability to cover uninsured kids and cripples any chance of reasonable expansion.¹
What can you do? Let's face it; President Bush isn't going to take your call. On the other hand, when the governor of a state calls, even Bush will listen.
The past 24 hrs, outraged DFA activists across the country have been taking action to stop these changes to stop George Bush's anti-children campaign.
Gloria in Pennsylvania:
The secretary said that the governor is very much opposed to the president's stand on health insurance for uninsured children and FOR the CHIPS program. She also said that they were getting lots of calls, took my name and registered my opinion.
Find your governor’s phone number here:
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/...
Then, report how your call went and we’ll highlight some of the great stories
http://www.DemocracyforAmerica.com/...
Call your governor today and deliver this message:
"President Bush's new rules which reduce the availability of the Children's Health Insurance Program for uninsured kids must be repealed. Governor Douglas must call President Bush today and demand a complete rollback of the new rules. Can I count on the governor to stand up for our kids?"
This is a very important time. Congress is poised to send an extensive expansion of the Children's Health Insurance Plan to Bush's desk next month, and Bush has already threatened to veto it. If we amp up the pressure now on a rules change they didn't even think we'd notice, we send Bush and Republicans in Congress a clear message that the health of America's children always comes first.
Please call the Governor right now. Your neighbor's kid might be depending on it.
Charles Chamberlain
Political Director
Democracy for Ameirca
Update 1: The calls keep flowing in! Thank you!
A few more samples:
Jeanne in CT:
they're running a list of everyone calling in. The person who took the call implied that the Governor was on our side, and will use the list as political capital.
David in TN:
Spoke to Bill in the Governor's office. He made a note of my request that Gov. Bredesen telephone the White House and noted that he had received a number of such calls.
Thomas in WA:
I called right at 8 a.m. The woman I spoke to said she would add my name to the "long list" of people who phoned yesterday.
And more Gubernatorial Responses:
From Colorado(hat tip bumblebums)
"Far too many kids in Colorado and across the nation are uninsured and do not receive the care they need, but things could soon get even worse," Gov. Ritter said. "SCHIP has been a successful partnership between the federal government and the state, and we want it to continue and grow, but this issue is getting bogged down by politics. Our representatives in Washington need to focus on what’s best for uninsured kids in Colorado, which is to cover as many of them as possible. SCHIP has proven to work when we give it the resources needed for success."
UPDATE 2:
Mildred in CT:
An assistant of Governor Rell's said she was sure Governor Rell would be making the call, asking for a rollback on the new rules. Mildred Pond
Update 3
Paula in Arizona:
Person answering the telephone seemed genuinely happy that I had called and expressed my support for the Governor's calling Bush and putting pressure on him to back off his change in rules on children's health insurance. She said she would be happy to pass on the mesage to Governor Napolitano.
Keep the calls coming all day!