Spiritual Override: The Campaign for Children's Health
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Wednesday morning, President Bush vetoed the bill reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) despite its broad bipartisan support in Congress and the full-throated endorsement from key faith leaders.
This led many in the faith community asking: What ever happened to compassionate conservatism?
As Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners put it:
What happened to you, Mr. President? The money needed for expanding health care to poor children in America is far less than the money that has been lost and wasted on corruption in Iraq. How have your priorities stayed so far from those children, whom you once agreed were so central to the soul of the nation? What do they need to do to get your attention again?
As disappointing as the president's veto has been to all those who have worked so hard to protect children's health, advocates are anything but hopeless.
In fact, though "compassionate conservatism" seems to have gone out of fashion in the executive branch, compassion in many forms is thriving in the Congress. The moral consensus around ensuring that children have access to health care is so strong that advocates believe they can garner enough votes to override the veto.
Between now and October 18 (the date scheduled for the veto override vote) faith leaders will continue their advocacy and moral leadership in this issue.
Here are some groups who are standing up for children's health:
Sojourners
Rev. Jim Wallis asks, "What happened to Compassionate Conservatism?" and Sojourners has helped put together press conferences to get the word out, called overriding the veto "our faith-based initiative."
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities is one of the largest providers of social services in the nation and is also committed to dramatically reducing poverty in America. Catholic Charities has vigorously opposed President Bush's veto and is encouraging supporter of children's health care to give the President a piece of their mind.
PICO
PICO's national network of faith-based organizations has rallied around SCHIP providing educational resources and creative campaigns, like a children's letter writing campaign to First Lady Laura Bush.
Other Resources:
