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On November 4th, America’s 74 million children will be too young to go to the polls and cast a vote, yet their health, education, and prospects for the future are at stake. While competing interests have dominated U.S. politics, children’s programs have lost ground.
With the downturn in the economy, now more than ever, our children need the support of our leadership. For example, currently, nine million U.S. children do not have health insurance. Children with health insurance are more likely to get timely health care. Conversely, children without health insurance are less likely to receive or more likely to delay needed care, resulting in more costly treatment in the future.
The next President and Congress will have the opportunity to lead America in a new commitment to all of the nation's children—including those who are marginalized or falling behind. No less than the future of the country depends upon it.
The Children's Partnership has launched Vote for Kids!, a public awareness campaign to inform voters about candidates’ positions on key children’s issues and to educate California Congressional candidates on issues critical to the health and well-being our nation's children.
The Children’s Partnership is asking candidates to address questions in three important areas:
If candidates respond, their responses will be posted on our Web site and widely distributed to the media and partner organizations so that interested parties can see where candidates stand on these children’s issues.
In addition, we want to partner with you in prioritizing children’s issues in this election. Our candidates must recognize that Americans want their leaders to take the interests of children seriously and that prioritizing children in the upcoming election is a necessity.
Act now! There is less than a month to make your voice heard!
 Contact your candidates and ask them to answer the questions outlined above.- Attend candidates’ forums, town halls, debates, and other events and ask candidates to address these questions.
- Provide voter educational materials to candidates, your colleagues, and your family and friends.
- Forward this article to everyone you know.
For more information, and to identify additional ways to participate, contact Jenny Kattlove at (310) 270-7167 or jkattlove@childrenspartnership.org.
Article posted on 10/22/08 |
