"Surprises, like misfortunes, seldom come alone."

n       Charles Dickens, "Oliver Twist"

 

Last week Pa. Senate Republican leaders said they "don't have the time" to fund research to help cure cancer, Alzheimer's or paralysis.

 

This week President Bush and his fellow Republicans pulled the rug out from working parents with uninsured children by announcing that federal matching funds for the Children's Health Insurance Program will run out in September, and that Republicans are just fine with 200,000 sick kids not being able to get medicine or see a doctor.

 

We're not joking. Apparently Republican leaders would rather see an extra billion in profits for an insurance company even if it means driving working families with sick children into bankruptcy and poverty.

 

House Democrats led the charge to create CHIP under Governor Casey - like we led the charge for the PACE senior prescription plan and the ongoing fight to Cover ALL Pennsylvanians. We will always do everything possible to make sure this program that gives families peace of mind will been there for children and parents, and nine out of ten parents agree this program needs to be funded.

 

If George W. Bush is going to ignore Pennsylvania's children, House Democrats are ready to take care of the problem ourselves - like we have with so many Republican "initiatives" -- and fund the CHIP program some other way.

 

We'll fight hard for children and working parents with legislation to preserve the safety net they need. The question is "Will George Bush's best Republican friends in Pennsylvania -- Rep. Sam Smith and Sens. Joe Scarnati and Dominic Pileggi -- stand with the president and the insurance companies, or will they stand with the House Democrats and the working families to protect children?"