Bullfight

Herger might want to read the California Budget Report’s publication, “Making Ends Meet: How Much Does It Cost to Raise a Family in California?”

Lower-middle class and middle-class families continue to be squeezed, particularly on health care costs. The CDP estimates that a two working parent family spends almost 25% on health care as a percentage of income.

The CDP report states:

“For many Californians, just making ends meet is a struggle. Many families live paycheck to paycheck, juggling rent or a mortgage payment with child care, food, and emergencies such as unexpected car repairs. During the past decade, welfare reform has focused attention on the challenges involved with moving families off welfare and into the workforce. Yet far less attention has focused on whether the jobs that are available provide sufficient income to support a family, or on the economic challenges facing many working families as they attempt to make ends meet.”

It’s doubtful that Herger will suffer any electoral defeat based on this one vote against expanding SCHIP, unlike other more vulnerable elected officials in more competitive districts.

But interestingly, CBS News Poll says:

“Eight in 10 Americans favor expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or S-CHIP, including large majorities of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents.”

The News & Review weighed in last week with this fantastically hopeful yet noble statement:

“Herger is in a bind. Having voted consistently for the president's tax cuts and funding for the misguided war in Iraq, he is now trying to be frugal at the expense of low-income children. In doing so, he is flying in the face of the wishes of most Californians and, we expect, most of his constituents. For years we've watched him march in lock-step behind the president, supporting his every endeavor, no matter how ill-conceived. For once, we hope, Herger will have the courage and wisdom to do the right thing and vote for the people of his district and state.”

Herger quickly killed any notion of “doing the right thing” by proving once again that his job is to vote for President Bush’s agenda, regardless of bi-partisan support for SCHIP.

Even The Sacramento Bee reported:

“We'd like to see Rep. Wally Herger, R-Marysville, who represents that district, vote to support families who work hard, pay taxes and yet still struggle financially. A congressional override of the Bush veto would allow California to cover about 4,420 more uninsured children in his district, according to numbers provided to The Bee by Peter Harbage, a consultant for the California Healthcare Foundation. They are children who meet current eligibility requirements.”

Here’s my ironic musical tribute to Herger:

Today's Scrabble word is jumbal, a ring shaped cookie.