Campaign Update
Thursday, November 9, 2006

Inside This Issue:

It was close (48% to 52%)! However, California voters failed to pass Prop 86. Despite the unfortunate defeat, Californians' commitment to children's health has not wavered. The Prop 86 vote had nothing to do with kids' coverage, and everything to do with the tobacco industry's $65 million campaign to distract and distort. As we turn to 2007, Californians for Healthy Kids is committed to doing what it takes to ensure all children receive the health care they need to grow up strong and healthy.

Your efforts on behalf of Prop 86 were tremendous, and we succeeded in galvanizing an even broader constituency of support for children's health coverage than we ever thought possible. Thank you for your time, energy, and passion. The campaign for Prop 86's children's health provisions energized a network of new support and voices toward the effort. We will harness this momentum as we call on the Governor and our state legislators to deliver on their promises to cover all children.

The clock has simply run out. Children cannot afford to wait any longer for essential health care. Today, 763,000 children in California woke up with out the security of health insurance. Too many of our children are living without needed immunizations, asthma medication, dental check-ups, and eyeglasses. They cannot wait – we must finish the job of insuring our children. We are too close to turn back now!

Please join the 100% Campaign and PICO California for a teleconference on Monday: What's Next on Children's Health Insurance Coverage? Strategy After Proposition 86. We will discuss lessons learned from Prop 86 and next steps in moving forward to ensure coverage for all kids in California. We welcome your participation.

When
Monday, November 13, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Call-in
800-567-5900, passcode: 100100

RSVP
Please RSVP to acridge@childrennow.org to ensure that sufficient lines are reserved.

The 100% Campaign, a collaborative effort of Children Now, Children's Defense Fund and The Children's Partnership, with primary funding from The California Endowment, was created to ensure that all of California's children obtain the health insurance they need to grow up strong and healthy.
www.100percentcampaign.org

The PICO California Project is the united effort of 20 California congregation-community organizations affiliated with the PICO National Network. Collectively, we represent 350 congregations and 400,000 families statewide and are actively organizing in over 70 cities in Northern and Southern California.
www.picocalifornia.org