A published letter from State Rep. Randy Fischer to Marilyn Musgrave, condemning her opposition to SCHIP renewal and expansion:
Dear Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave,
I write to express my disappointment that Colorado's children have been let down. Acting against bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress, President Bush vetoed the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. I was also disappointed to learn of your own vote against the SCHIP reauthorization. More than half of Colorado's 56,000 children currently enrolled in Colorado's SCHIP program, CHP+, may now lose their health insurance unless the President's veto is overridden.
This past legislative session, the Colorado General Assembly passed Senate Joint Resolution 12, in support of SCHIP reauthorization. I was pleased to co-sponsor this resolution because I am committed to finding health-care coverage for the more than 180,000 Colorado children who are currently uninsured. There are nearly twice as many Colorado kids who are eligible for CHP+ than there are funds available to enroll.
Uninsured children are less likely to receive regular checkups, care for urgent needs, and immunizations against childhood diseases. They are also more than seven times more likely to go without necessary medical care. Equally important, providing basic health care for kids makes good economic sense. It is well known that every dollar invested in children's health pays large dividends in avoided costs for adult health care.
As a member of the Colorado General Assembly, I urge you to reconsider your stated intent to uphold the president's veto. Your vote to override the president on this issue would be one of the most meaningful and compassionate actions of your tenure in office and would have important benefits for Colorado children.
Randy Fischer,
Colorado state representative,
House District 53,
Fort Collins
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