Weiner Blasts Bush Administration for Turning its Back on Middle Class New Yorkers

Press Release

WEINER BLASTS BUSH ADMINISTRATION FOR TURNING ITS BACK ON MIDDLE CLASS NEW YORKERS

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn & Queens), a member of the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health released the following statement today in response to the Bush administration's rejection of New York State's proposal to expand healthcare coverage to 70,000 uninsured children through the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP):

"The fact that 400,000 children are living in New York without health insurance is a moral outrage.

"This decision is shameful. I urge the Bush administration to reconsider its blunder and give New York State the tools needed to provide health insurance for the middle class and those struggling to make it."

Created in 1997, the State Children's Health Insurance Program is a national program designed to aid middle-income families whose income disqualifies them from using Medicaid, yet cannot afford private insurance due to the rising cost of healthcare.

New York is a prime example that the SCHIP program works, especially amongst children. As the second largest SCHIP program in the country, New York has reduced its number of uninsured children by more than 40%.

New data released this week by the Census Bureau showed the number of uninsured children rose for a second year in a row to a new high of 8.7 million.

Source