The Grand Rapids Press reported today that Republican Representative Vern Ehlers supports overriding President George W. Bush's recent veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) appropriations bill. SCHIP provides insurance for low-income, uninsured children whose parents make too much money to qualify for Medicaid. Ten million children nationwide are insured under the program, including 118,501 in Michigan. The Press reports that Ehlers and St. Joseph Republican Fred Upton support overriding Bush's veto. Ehlers is quoted saying "that's my plan at this point" despite the fact that he believes that Democrats "were taking a perfectly good program and instead of just renewing it, messing with it." This quote reflects his statement on the recent SCHIP legislation in which Ehlers said that the bill "...made some controversial changes to SCHIP, which I do not approve, I believe the overall bill is acceptable and I voted for it."

According to the Press' report, Ehlers is being targeted by the United Auto Workers to ensure that he votes to override Bush's veto. Additionally, the Iraq Summer campaign is organizing a protest tomorrow at 6:00pm in front of Ehlers' office at 110 Michigan St NW to call on Ehlers to "vote his conscience and to pressure his colleagues to join him in providing children with the healthcare coverage they need."