As Californians Hold Candlelight Vigils for Health Care, Republicans in Washington Kill Health Insurance for Children

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

The It's OUR Healthcare coalition is holding 48-hour vigils in front of Governor Schwarzenegger's district offices across the state in an effort to convince the Governor to work with legislatures to pass comprehensive health care reform this year. A livestream of the San Francisco vigil is available and at 6 p.m. this evening, the group will light candles for those who have suffered because of inadequate health care in California.

Meanwhile, despite valiant efforts by Democratic leadership and grassroots bloggers, Congress failed today to override President Bush's veto of the S-CHIP program, falling 16 votes short of the two-thirds majority required. As California Rep. Xavier Becerra noted on the Hill Blog, insuring children for a year would cost as much money as waging the Iraq war for three weeks.

Nevertheless, only one California Republican voted for the veto override, which prompted this strongly worded statement by CDP Chair Art Torres:

"Every California Republican who voted to uphold President Bush’s heartless veto should be embarrassed and ashamed that he chose to stand in the way of improving the lives of millions of our state’s poorest children. Democrats will hold these lockstep followers of President Bush accountable for their votes, and force them to explain to their constituents why they are siding with Bush’s shameful policies over our kids.

As long as this President and his apologists in Congress continue to deny American children health care, Democrats will continue to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves. This fight is far from over."