Washington—USAction President William McNary released the following statement on Wednesday, following President George W. Bush's veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Program authorization bill:

"It is obscene for President Bush, who ran as a 'compassionate conservative,' to veto funding for children's health care while continuing his mismanaged, endless war in Iraq. 

"This is clearly not a battle about cost, but a battle about our nation's priorities.

"USAction and our state affiliates believe that everyone in America is entitled to high-quality, affordable health care as a guaranteed right.  Expanding the SCHIP program is one proven, practical and popular way to achieve this goal. It has broad, bipartisan, across-the-board support from a majority of Americans.

"USAction joins our national partners in the Emergency Campaign for America's Priorities in calling on members of Congress to stand up with their constituents, stand up to the president, and override this unconscionable veto."

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USAction and our affiliates in 24 states join together to win social, racial and economic justice for all.  We connect issues to elections and policy to politics. We seek to take our democracy back from the corporate elite and the well-heeled special interests that dominate the political process today – because we believe that government has a critical role to play in ensuring liberty and justice for all.  Members of the media who wish to interview USAction President William McNary should contact Will Matthews at (202) 263-4541.