May 24, 2007

"Political Courage: Healthcare for Every Child in America"

Washington, DC (PoliticalJones.com) - Who could have a problem with universal healthcare for children and pregnant women? Working folks and their children, should not be denied basic healthcare benefits because they don't have the resources to pay the high cost of healthcare. In a society with so much technology and wealth, we cannot and should not refuse to help those in need, in this case children and pregnant women.

Even the most fiscal conservative member of Congress, regardless of party or affiliation, would have to be willing to accept that universal healthcare for children and pregnant women, is a worthwhile and achievable goal. It would be a great sight, Conservative and Progressive members of Congress agreeing on an issue, and using their collective strength to make it happen. Finding common ground. Or do they still use that other “b” word in Washington, “bi-partisanship”?

In America, folks have always stepped up to the plate and committed to taking care of those who cannot take care of themselves. It is a moral obligation of a community, village, city, state or nation to take care of them. It is the American Way to help and give back to those less fortunate. Americans are a caring and strong people, and they care about children and pregnant women.

Clearly, it is not time to get caught up in finger pointing or blaming anyone for past transgressions. The time to act is now. As grown folks, we know there are issues and problems that we may never agree on. However, I think that when it comes to the issues of children and pregnant women, we can all agree that their healthcare is of the utmost importance.

On Capitol Hill, Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va), a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, who has fought passionately on issues concerning children and pregnant women for over 20 years both in the Virginia State Legislature and U.S. Congress, has introduced legislation to address this crisis in our nation. His bill, H.R. 1688, the “All Healthy Children Act”, would "provide health insurance coverage for children and pregnant women throughout the United States, by expanding benefits provided for them under Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Programs". It provides members with a good starting point to create meaningful and thoughtful health care legislation.

There will great debate on how to make the bill workable.  This is the American way, and the purest form of our democratic process.  There will be tremendous pressure placed on Congress to address this issue.

Regardless of all the outside pressure sure to be placed on the appropriate committees and members concerning this bill, there is one big event overshadowing everything happening in D.C . . . Election 2008.  If this bill or any other legislation like it is not signed into law by the end of 2007, then the likelihood of any legislative action during the 2008 Election season is almost totally non-existent.

Let’s hope that in 2007, Congress and the Bush Administration have the heart and courage to look out for children and pregnant women, to do anything less would be a disgrace.