Dems: Inhofe Snubs Middle-Income Working Parents

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 1, 2007) - Oklahoma U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe's attack on middle income working parents today is one more example of a Washington politician who is out of touch with the people he was elected to represent, State Democratic Party Chairman Dr. Ivan Holmes said today.

"As a U.S. Senator, Jim Inhofe enjoys some of the most generous health care benefits in America," Holmes said. "But, when Oklahoma middle income working families can no longer afford health insurance for about 40,000 children, he tells them, 'tough luck'."

Holmes praised the Congress for last week passing an extension of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and expanding its coverage to include children of some middle-income families who have lost their insurance coverage due to higher medical costs. The bill is budget neutral because its increased costs are offset by an increase in the tobacco tax.

"Inhofe has now voted twice against this measure and today he issued a statement calling children's health insurance a 'new middle-class entitlement'," Holmes said. "I don't hear him criticizing the Members of Congress health care entitlement, " he added.

The bipartisan bill that passed the Senate last week with 69 votes, would increase federal funding to Oklahoma for children's health insurance by approximately $66 million, according to state health officials. Currently 70,000 children are covered by the program and as many as 40,000 more children could be covered under the new guidelines.

"This is not an entitlement program," "It is an investment in our children. Their quality health care is a moral issue that faces our country. That's why this bill has broad, bipartisan support," Holmes said.

Holmes said that Inhofe's callous attitude toward the needs of his state should inform all Oklahomans about his misplaced priorities

"Inhofe is willing to spend in Iraq in just 41 days what it would cost to provide health coverage for 10 million American children each year," Holmes said.

-- For more information please visit www.okdemocrats.org or www.okbluenotes.blogspot.com. --


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