CODEY & ROBERTS SEEK UNITED FRONT URGING OVERRIDE OF BUSH SCHIP VETO  

(TRENTON) – Senate President Richard J. Codey and Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr. today called on fellow legislators to sign onto a letter urging New Jersey’s Congressional delegation to override President Bush’s veto of legislation to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Codey and Roberts are seeking a united, bipartisan front in the Legislature so the entire Congressional delegation understands how detrimental President Bush’s SCHIP veto is to the state.  The legislative leaders said an override threatens to hurt children who need health care benefits while creating a revenue hole of more than $88 million in the state budget by the end of next year.

“Given the magnitude of the situation, it is incumbent upon us to put aside political ideologies in an effort to protect New Jersey children who need health care,” Codey and Roberts wrote in a letter they plan to send to the Congressional delegation on Monday with the names of other New Jersey legislators attached.  “To that end, it is absolutely imperative that the members of New Jersey’s Congressional delegation ignore the pull of partisan politics and ban together to override the President’s veto.”

--Letters attached-- 

October 11, 2007 

Dear Legislator: 

We need your support in sending a message to our Congressional delegation that we want them to support children’s health care and override President Bush’s veto of SCHIP. 

Please sign the notice below so we can include your name on the accompanying bipartisan letter to the New Jersey Congressional delegation, asking them to help children who need health care benefits and to avoid creating a hole of more than $88 million in the State budget by the end of next year. 

Thank you. 

Sincerely,

Richard J. Codey             Joseph J. Roberts, Jr.

Senate President              Assembly Speaker  

Yes, please include my name on the letter to our Congressional delegation, asking them to override President Bush’s veto of SCHIP.

 _________________________            _________________________

                 PRINT NAME                                                          SIGN NAME

Please return your signoff by fax so we can mail out the letter with your name by Monday, October 15, 2007. 

Senate Fax: 609-984-1235

Assembly Fax: 609-292-2386

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(to be sent on October 15, 2007) 

October 15, 2007 

Dear Congressman: 

President Bush’s recent veto of legislation to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program seriously undermines New Jersey’s efforts to reduce the number of state residents who don’t have health insurance. 

The veto jeopardizes our successful Family Care program, which currently serves 124,000 children and 80,000 parents.  Furthermore, the President’s veto creates a gaping $88 million hole in the state budget by the end of next year without the federal share of our expanded Family Care program. 

The cruel reach of this presidential veto will be felt by children up and down our state in every county, district and community.  There are an estimated 254,000 uninsured children in New Jersey, according to a report released last month by the Families USA national consumer advocacy group.  The futures of these children may forever be hindered by a lack of access to preventative treatment and medical care in the here and now. 

Given the magnitude of the situation, it is incumbent upon us to put aside political ideologies in an effort to protect New Jersey children who need health care.  To that end, it is absolutely imperative that the members of New Jersey’s Congressional delegation ignore the pull of partisan politics and ban together to override the President’s veto. 

We hope you will heed our message and consider the impact that your vote will have on millions of children throughout the country when Congress reconvenes to take up the matter.   

Very truly yours, 

Senate President Richard J. Codey 

Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr.                                        

(legislators names to be added)

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