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North County Times
May 14, 2005
By Reverends Michael Ratajczak, Michael Henderson, Bud Kaicher,
Bill Harman and Stephen McCall
Red and blue symbolize the deep political
divide in America. However, on Dec. 14 in Sacramento an unprecedented
nonpartisan array of 87 organizations representing faith communities,
parents, teachers, nurses, business, labor and children's
advocates announced a statewide campaign with the goal of
providing affordable health insurance for the 800,000 California
children who don't have it. Congregations for Civic Action,
a North County nonprofit comprising congregations that work
to address critical pressures on family life, and our 19 sister
organizations were present as founding members of the Californians
for Healthy Kids campaign.
Why should we do this? Compassion is first
and foremost. Every child should be able to see a doctor when
necessary and stay healthy.
Prevention is the second reason. Experts estimate
that for every dollar spent on child immunization, we save
more than $13 in higher costs of health care down the road.
A recent study of San Diego children reveals that with insurance,
children experience a 25 percent improvement in health and
a 68 percent improvement in "paying attention in class"
and "keeping up with school activities." It will
cost California taxpayers less in the long run to insure
our children, and it will improve their ability to learn
and become productive citizens.
Since we have mandated education for all our
children, it's a logical and wise next step to guarantee affordable
health insurance for all our kids.
The third reason we should do this is that
it is doable! Ninety percent of California children already
have health insurance. Civic Action has been working to enroll
children who are eligible in the Medi-Cal and Healthy Families
programs for several years. Efforts like this have reduced
the number of uninsured children statewide from 1.5 million
in 2001 to 1.1 million in 2003. Now we are down to 800,000,
and the majority of them are eligible for Medi-Cal and Healthy
Families. We are just a short distance away from insuring
every child!
On April 13, state Secretary of Health and
Human Services Kim Belshe, Republican and Democratic state
legislators and more than 4,000 clergy and laypeople gathered
for a town hall meeting in the Sacramento Convention Center
to promote a shared approach for getting the job done. A shared
approach means that parents will contribute based on their
income/ability to pay, government will do its fair share (particularly
in cutting waste and simplifying enrollment), and employers
will be encouraged to voluntarily participate. Two bills working
their way through the state Legislature embody this: AB 772
(Chan) and SB 437 (Escutia). The president of Civic Action,
Socorro Anderson of Carlsbad, addressed the Senate Health
Committee in support of SB 437 earlier that day, and it passed
through the committee with bipartisan support. Red and blue
symbolized the best of America on April 13.
We are seeking local organizations and leaders
that share our vision and zeal for doing the right thing for
our children. However, if you are stirred by this, don't wait
for us to find you. Please call Congregations for Civic Action
at (760) 745-1630.
The Rev. Michael Ratajczak is pastor at
St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Oceanside, the Rev. Michael
Henderson is pastor at Shiloh Church of God in Christ in Oceanside,
the Rev. Bud Kaicher is pastor at St. Peter's Catholic Community
in Fallbrook, the Rev. Bill Harman is pastor at Bethlehem
Lutheran Church in Encinitas, and the Rev. Stephen McCall
is pastor at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Carlsbad.
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