Letter: Kids without health insurance out of luck

Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007 | 7:23 a.m.

I gather from recent press reports that the Great Decider has for the second Scroogelike time vetoed the popular program expanding health care coverage for children - this time quietly, with no fanfare, filling their Christmas stockings with coal!

The president apparently believes preventing raising taxes on smokers is more important. Even some members of his own party are frustrated and anxious, but we'll see what will be done when the time comes after the holidays.

The president's obstinacy will be especially noted on this Christmas Day, when parents who were looking forward to the health plan will realize that, apparently, the Congress and the president, with their superb health plans for their children, have left the nation's children without insurance coverage out in the cold.

Will the spineless Republicans who had blindly followed the president in the past recognize the damaging long-term effects to our country resulting from failure to provide the proper health care for our children?

Will those lawmakers redeem and assert themselves, regain their honor and independence and, representing the people, act with positive determination to support our future generations? The country awaits the final outcome with trepidation.

Leopold A Potsiadlo, Las Vegas