Governor Douglas Stands Up For Vermonts Kids

We at VPIRG would like to congratulate and thank Governor Jim Douglas for standing up for Vermont’s children by denouncing the Bush Administration’s proposal to restrict funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) as “an unconscionable reversal of federal policy.” The new federal guidelines, which impose harsh restrictions on states that wish to use SCHIP funding to cover the children of families with incomes greater than 250% of the federal poverty level, could result in over 2,000 Vermont children losing their health benefit next year. Although Governor Douglas will undoubtedly come under immense pressure from the National Republican Party and private health insurance companies, he has chosen to do the right thing by publicly speaking out against the Bush Administration’s decision. We applaud the Governor’s action and encourage him to continue to put the needs of Vermont’s children ahead of big business and partisan politics.