John Kerry's Kids Come First Act

[kerrygoddess]

In an email just sent out by John Kerry to his supporters, Kerry states his goal for his Kids Come First Act petition is "to top 500,000 before President Bush makes his State of the Union Address on February 2nd." The petition has already received wide spread support: "To date, nearly 300,000 Americans have signed our Kids Come First petition."

From the email:

This is personal. As I traveled across the country last year, I learned a lot about the dreams, hopes, fears and frustrations of the American people. Nothing touched me more than the parents I met who feared that illness would strike a child who is uninsured.

A sick child is always a worry. A sick child that you can't get help for is a parent's worst nightmare. Helping the 11 million children who have no health coverage isn't even on the radar screen of the Bush administration and the Republican leaders in Congress. But, we're going to put it there.

It is totally unacceptable that, in the greatest country in the world, millions of children are not getting the health care they need. That's why this week I introduced the Kids Come First Act. Help me push through the Republicans' political roadblocks and take care of the 11 million children without health insurance.

More & Links to Petition: http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=276

There are 5 Senators who are currently Co=Sponsoring this Bill. Contact your Senators after signing the petition and urge them to Co-Sponsor this Bill!

[JI7]

1. it also includes raising taxes for higher income people

unlikely Bush will ever support it but it would be good to get him on record as having vetoed it.

[kerrygoddess]

7. Always good to have Bush on record.

I hope everyone signs this and presses the issue with their local Senators. This should be a Bi-Partisan issue and we need to help JK get this pushed!

[pbartch]

2. HERE IS LINK TO THE PETITION

http://www.johnkerry.com/petition/billsummary.php

[msgadget]

3. Based on the wording, it should be a bipartisan issue,

...how to get states to expand coverage; how to get parents to share in the responsibility of covering their children; and how to eliminate enrollment barriers that prevent eligible children from signing up for coverage.

Clever. Let's see how the other side words its vote against it. This is gonna be an interesting year!

:bounce:

[JI7]

4. seems he has learned the importance of wording or framing

on the abortion issue the republicans made it like Kerry was against life. if you remember from the debates Kerry always specifically answered the question about abortion rights saying he is prochoice and even opposes parental notification for minors. the question was always asked in terms of the anti abortion side. by making it a life or against life issue rather than one of choice.

but if anyone paid attention when Bush answered the question he NEVER said he opposes abortion rights. he just made some vague statement about how much he values life making it seem as if Kerry is against the value of life.

[msgadget]

5. Well, this year they will both be required to own their stances.

The right is now pushing w to explicitly support that which he only skated near last year.

[Pirate Smile]

6. That was my first thought too. Nice title! Republicans think millionaires

come first.:evilgrin:

[kerrygoddess]

8. Let's push our Senators

Let's push our Senators to support this regardless of their Party affiliation!

[msgadget]

9. Absolutely.

Democrats with Republican senators should already have their letters, faxes, guerilla marketing and email done already!

[kerrygoddess]

12. Let's hope so!

[cestpaspossible]

10. Thanks for suggesting pushing Senators to cosponsor.

I hadn't thought of that, for some reason.

[kerrygoddess]

11. JK is asking that we do this...

We can only break through with the help of your voices. Please call your Senators today and ask that they cosponsor S. 114, the "Kids Come First Act of 2005." Every additional name we add on to this bill is just one step closer we get to putting it on the President's desk for signature.

http://www.johnkerry.com/petition/kidsfirst.php

[kerrygoddess]

13. List of Senators who are already sponsoring this

Kerry is working hard in the Senate to garner support for this Bill (S 114). The Bill was introduced on Monday, January 24th. Currently five Senators are Co-Sponsoring this bill: Senator Maria Cantwell (WA), Senator Jon Corzine (NJ), Senator Edward Kennedy (MA), Senator Frank Lautenberg (NJ), and Senator Patty Murray (WA). Please contact your local Senators and ask them to Co-Sponsor this Bill.

From The Daou Report: Kerry to make major speech on children's health care Thursday - will play hardball with Republicans who obstruct.

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=276

[blm]

14. Looks like Kerry is going to get in their faces with this.

His wording here really has Bush and the GOP backed into a corner.

He's doing a speech on Thursday and MTP on Sunday. We have to help MAKE IT HARD for the Republicans to shove this aside.

[karynnj]

15. Both my senators already there

Yay! Lautenberg and Corzine!

[Vektor]

16. I just signed....

Sounds like a good plan!

[OhioBlue]

17. Thanks for the post

I'm so happy to see that Senator Kerry will continue to fight for what is just. I received the e-mail too. I have signed, forwarded and e-mailed my Senators.

[Withywindle]

18. Eeeexxxxxcellent!

Both the function of the bill itself, and its strategic value. :thumbsup:

[kerrygoddess]

19. Yes it is...

I created a CapWiz Action Alert for people to send letters to the Senators:

We’ve Got Your Back John Kerry!
26 January 2005

John Kerry’s new Kids Come First Act (S.114) deserves our support. We have created an action alert on Congress.org to make it easy for everyone to send a letter to their Senators urging them to Co-Sponsor the Kids Come First Act in the Senate.

Link to Action Alert & Copy of Letter - http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=277

Please pass the word!