To Senator Shelby & Sessions

Senator Shelby,

I have been following the SCHIP bill, and was disappointed, although not surprised, that you voted against this bill. When the vote comes back to override the President's veto, I urge you to remember the 115,000 children in Alabama who do not have health insurance. Since they cannot vote, cannot speak for themselves, and cannot earn an income, it is up to us to make sure their needs are met. It is up to YOU to make better choices on their behalf. For my husband and I, providing health care for our son is a no-brainer. We pay a heavy price for our health insurance, but we are able to pay it. There is simply no debate about whether or not to get his immunizations, to make the "just in case" visit to the pediatrician, or to buy another round of medicine. For many, many parents in Alabama (indeed, many of my neighbors in East Lake, a poor community in Birmingham), these decisions are not so easy to make. They cannot afford health insurance, or they may not even have it offered to them.

When you were elected Senator, you were elected to represent all of us, not just the wealthy donors to your campaign, or the business interests of the state. Indeed, are we not judged by how we care for the powerless in our society?

Senator Shelby, please reconsider your vote for the SCHIP program. Whatever argument you are resting on for your voting against this program, one look at the reality facing my neighbors in alabama should surely change your mind.