News from
THE MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      
Contact: Liz Kerr
517-371-5410
March 5, 2008

Cheney Visit Highlights Walberg's Stances against SCHIP and Stem Cell Research

Blind Loyalty to the Bush Administration Hurts Health Care Access for Michigan Citizens

LANSING—This Friday, Dick Cheney will highlight Tim Walberg's (R-Tiptom) health care policies that are a rubber stamp of the Bush-Cheney stances that have left over one million Michigan citizens without health insurance and have prevented research to find life-saving treatments that stem cell research could provide.

"Walberg's allegiance to the failed polices of the Bush-Cheney Administration hurt the people he represents," said Brewer. "The 7th District needs a representative who puts children and families ahead of the lobbyists who fund their campaign."

Walberg yielded to the Bush Administration and tobacco lobbyists in their opposition to the renewal and expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Under this bill thousands of additional Michigan children would have access to health care. Over one million Michigan citizens are uninsured. In October 2006, Walberg said that health care was an opportunity, not a right. Yet as a former legislator, Walberg is eligible for life-long free health care from the state.

Walberg also opposes stem cell research, which holds the potential to cure many life threatening and debilitating diseases. According to polling, approximately three quarters of Michigan residents support embryonic stem cell research. Walberg even voted against legislation to allow for the use of federal funds in research on embryonic stem cell lines derived from surplus embryos at in vitro fertilization clinics.

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Paid for by the Michigan Democratic State Central Committee, 606 Townsend St., Lansing, MI  48933. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.