The United Way of Porter County is one of more 60 organizations in Indiana urging Congress to override President Bush’s veto of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) when the vote takes place today.

A letter sent to Indiana’s congressional delegation urges the federal lawmakers to override Bush’s veto of the SCHIP bill as well as to vote on appropriations bills that preserve and expand programs like Head Start, job training services, community health centers, mental health programs, and the Women, Infants and Children food program.

“Our children cannot learn and thrive if they do not get the health care they need. We will look to your vote to override the SCHIP veto as a true demonstration of your commitment to our state’s children,” the letter says.

The letter notes that Indiana has 69,500 uninsured children who would benefit by a veto override of SCHIP. The letter also states that Bush wants to slash appropriations that would cut services for Indiana’s families for the seventh year in a row. Among the statistics cited in the letter, the House-passed appropriations bill would allow 339 more children in Indiana to qualify for Head Start, funding for 242 more teachers, and an increase of $109 per child with a disability than Bush’s plan. The presdient’s plan would also eliminate food packages for 4,500 senior citizens in Indiana who now participate in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.

The letter was signed by organizations representing faith, labor and social service agencies.

In addition to the United Way of Porter County, other area agencies that signed onto the letter are the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana, Code Pink of Highland, Community Reinvestment Project of East Chicago, The Child Care Consortium of Michigan City, and the Gary School Corp.

Posted 10/18/2007