Lt. Governor John Carney Urges Congress To Override President's Veto Of SCHIP Expansion

Lt. Governor John Carney today is urging all members of the U.S. House of Representatives to vote for an override of President Bush's veto of legislation that would reauthorize and expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The legislation was passed by both the House and the Senate with bipartisan support early this year.

The Lt. Governor sent a letter to Delaware's Congressional delegation on October 3, the day the President vetoed the legislation, asking them to make overriding the veto a priority. Sens. Joseph Biden and Thomas Carper and Rep. Michael Castle all voted for the bill, which was the result of a compromise between members of both parties.

"As I wrote to our delegation, I spend much of my time trying to create and find new ways to make quality health care available to all Delawareans," the Lt. Governor said. "The SCHIP program gives thousands of vulnerable children in Delaware access to quality health care. Without the program, most would not be able to afford it. We have a responsibility to make sure that doesn't happen."

About 5,000 Delaware children are enrolled in the SCHIP program. Children who live in households with incomes between 100 percent and 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible.

"Our delegation understands how important this program is to Delaware's children," said the Lt. Governor. "The President obviously doesn't. SCHIP needs to be reauthorized and expanded. Thousands of Delaware children and millions of children across the country are counting on it."