The Bill That Never Was: 35 Billion Reasons Why President Bush Made A Mistake

Just when low-income families thought that help was on the way in the form of health insurance coverage, their hope was shot down by a man. The same man who was elected to help this country but has done nothing but hinder the progress of America. Last week, President Bush vetoed a bill to add $35 billion to programs providing health insurance to children of lower-income families. "The policies of the government ought to be to help poor children and to focus on poor children, and the policies of the government ought to be to help people find private insurance, not federal coverage. And that's where the philosophical divide comes in," Bush said.

One man who was openly critical about Presidents Bushs decision to veto the State Children’s Health Insurance Program was, Dean of the USC School of Dentistry, Harold Slavkin (seen below) . Dean Slavkin stated that the veto compromises California’s poorest children, the ones who are most vulnerable in our communities. Diseases surround this country, some to which we have cures and other to which we are yet to find cures for. Tooth decay is the most prevalent disease among children in this country and can be extremely deadly. In Los Angeles County in particular, cavities and oral infections are the number one reason children are missing school. "This bill is crucial for the health of America's children and is a fitting tribute to the memory of Deamonte Driver, the Maryland boy who died earlier this year when his untreated tooth abscess led to a brain infection,” adds Slavkin.

As much as I hate sounding like a broken record, that’s probably what somebody would think of me while reading my recent posts. Every post seems to emphasize the importance of providing health insurance, especially dental insurance to American Citizens. This post is no different. Just when I though that, like Spain did in providing free dental care to all children between the ages of 7 – 15, the United States was going to step up and provide for those who are most in need. Instead, the step taken was in the wrong direction. President Bush was elected to lead this country and work towards positive progress everyday. The only problem I see is a huge problem in itself. President Bush is leading this country in the wrong direction. We had a chance to accomplish something great with the new States Children’s Health Insurance Program but what once seemed like a bright idea for the future is nothing more than a dark moment in the past. By vetoing the bill, President Bush has left the door open for American Citizens to either not seek any kind of care for medical problems which they might have or to seek not only dental care, but also all kinds of health care outside the borders of the United States. The potential outside care which patients in need may receive might not be safe or effective which in turn, could lead to infection, disease or worst of all, death. So, in a way, President Bush has left the door open for our own American citizens to die, all while he could have simply passed a bill which could have made a difference in million of lives. Would have, could have, but simply didn’t.