News
California youth travel to Sacramento to urge Governor not to cut their health care
PICO California, June 18, 2009
On June 17, 200 PICO youth and adult leaders marched on the California State Capitol to protect Healthy Families - California's SCHIP - and kid's lives. During a press conference on the Capitol steps, youth who are covered by the Healthy Families program gave testimony about what it meant to them to have medical coverage.
Elder John Harris, from People and Congregations Together (PACT) in Stockton, pointed out that the Governor has options. For example, it would take only 8% of the state's reserve "rainy day " fund to pay for the entire Healthy Families program. PICO families held up umbrellas to send the message to the Governor that it's raining right now, and it's time to use the rainy day fund.
Immediately following the press conference, youth leaders brought banners with children's handprints from various PICO affiliates to the Governor's Office. Teams of leaders then met with their state legislators and legislators' staff and gave them toy umbrellas as a reminder that for children in California, the rain is coming down hard.
The event attracted the attention of local and statewide television, radio and print media, and will be featured on tomorrow's cover of Capitol Weekly.
For more information on PICO California, visit www.picocalifornia.org
