The College Democrats of New Jersey are leading a statewide effort to protect federal funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The SCHIP program is critical to providing health insurance for disadvantaged children and their families. Please visit www.njcollegedems.org  to sign our petition.

An overwhelming, bipartisan majority in Congress passed legislation extending and improving SCHIP (H.R. 976). Polling indicates that nearly nine in ten voters want SCHIP reauthorized, while over six in ten want the program to be expanded to provide more comprehensive healthcare for children.

Defying the will of Congress and the American people, President Bush vetoed the reauthorization of SCHIP. To prevail, President Bush needs the support of all of the 159 out of 435 representatives who voted against SCHIP.

New Jersey representatives Jim Saxton (Republican, 3rd District), Scott Garrett (Republican, 5th District), and Rodney Frelinghuysen (Republican, 11th District) voted with President Bush to oppose SCHIP reauthorization.

These New Jersey representatives voted against the interests of our state’s children. Their support of President Bush’s veto has placed New Jersey’s successful “Family Care” child health program at risk of severe budget cuts. Governor Jon Corzine warned that without funding provided by the SCHIP reauthorization, up to 124,000 children and 80,000 parents could lose their Family Care health coverage.

If Representatives Saxton, Garrett, and Frelinghuysen continue to stand with President Bush, then New Jersey taxpayers stand to lose real money. If SCHIP is not reauthorized, then health care obligations that used to be paid by federal government will be paid by New Jersey taxpayers.

Remind representatives Saxton, Garrett, and Frelinghuysen that their job is to represent the people of New Jersey, not President Bush. Send them a notice by signing our petition, available at www.njcollegedems.org.