Jay Nixon Calls on President Bush to Sign S-CHIP Reauthorization Bill

JEFFERSON CITY, MO -- Attorney General Jay Nixon today called on President Bush to sign the bill reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), the state-federal partnership program that provides health coverage to millions of low-income children across the country.  Following Gov. Matt Blunt's massive health care cuts in 2005, more than 28,000 Missouri children have lost access to S-CHIP, bringing the total number of uninsured Missouri children to more than 127,000. 

The S-CHIP is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2007.  However, President Bush is expected to veto legislation that passed with bipartisan support in Congress to reauthorize the program. 

"Governor Blunt is moving Missouri backwards on health care, and kids are among the hardest hit.  As result of his massive health care cuts in 2005, there are now more than 127,000 children in Missouri without health insurance," said Attorney General Nixon.  "That is unacceptable.  The S-CHIP program provides health coverage to millions of low-income children across the country, and Missouri's children need the help now more than ever.  The reauthorization of S-CHIP moves Missouri forward towards providing every child in Missouri has health insurance."

Last week, Gov. Blunt announced his latest health care initiative to expand health coverage. However, the Governor's plan does nothing to bring coverage to the more than 127,000 children in Missouri who don't have health insurance.