This Sunday, UULM Action Network encourages UUs to support PICO's Compassion Sabbath/Sunday, an interfaith effort to overcome President Bush’s threatened veto of an expanded State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Check out the flier!

Through California’s Healthy Families program, SCHIP currently helps subsidize health insurance for about 850,000 children who are not eligible for MediCal, but whose family incomes are at or below 250% of the poverty level. If the threatened veto is not overturned, California’s Healthy Families program will run out of money mid 2008 and many kids will lose access to preventative health care. (A Fact sheet from PICO National.)

Governor Schwarzenegger and Democratic leadership support expanding SCHIP because they realize that health care costs have risen far beyond the reach of  “moderate income” families. They also know that the federal share of SCHIP money is essential to making any comprehensive health care reform in California financially viable.

 Please join faith communities, editorial boards, and politicians from both side of the aisle in asking those members of Congress who voted "no" to change their vote. The Senate is onboard, now we need a veto-proof majority in the House before Oct. 18th.

Check out this list to see those representatives open to changing their position to "yes". Three are from California - Congressmen Brian Bilbrey, John Doolittle, and Wally Herger.

Please call PICO Children’s Healthcare Action Hotline 1-866-633-6432 and you’ll automatically be connected with your elected representative.

Please email to your Congressional Representative.

Our elected representatives have a moral choice to make. Let's help them stand up for the kids.

Thanks and blessings,

Rev. Lindi Ramsden
UU Legislative Ministry Action Network

PS Thanks to the UU congregations who are active members of their local PICO affiliate. You all are doing great work!

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