If I were you, I would be mad. -- Healthy Montna Kids funding cut by over 50%

Montanans like you voted in support of the Healthy Montana Kids Plan (I-155) by over 70% in November 2008 and late Friday night ten Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee went against the will of 329,432 voters by amending the voter initiative and denying medical care to 15,000 uninsured Montana children (half of the kids who would have been covered). The ballot cearly stated that $22 million would be invested by the state to recieve the federal match of more than $3.50 for each $1 Montana invests in the program. That investment apporved by voters has now been cut by more than half down to $10.7 million.

The Senate Republicans in the Senate Finance and Claims Committee argued that Montana voters did not understand what they were voting for and claimed the plan was too expensive even though all the money was set aside in a special revenue account and ONLY needed to be implemented.

What you can do?
Contact your Senators (info below) by Wed morning and tell them fully fund Healthy Montana Kids!

If you live in the areas below we especially need your help with these targets/possible swing votes:

• In the Huntley and/or Billings area contact Sen. Taylor Brown -- and forward this email or call on to all your friends ASAP
• If you are from the Flathead contact Sen. Ryan Zinke (Whitefish -voted against HMK in committee) and Sen. John Brueggerman (Polson -- the one Republican on the committee who voted for Healthy MT Kids) -- and forward this email or call on to all your friends ASAP
• If you are from the Bitterroot, please contact Sen. Rick Liable (voted against HMK in committee) -- and forward this email or call on to all your friends ASAP
  

If you do not live in these areas . . . do you have friends or family in Billings, the Flathead or the Bitterroot? Please call them or email them ASAP and ask them to contact these Senators. We need help to get this message out and promise it will only take 90 seconds or less of your time to call.

Super easy ways to contact your Senators

• Leave a phone message call 406-444-4800 between 8am and 5pm and you message will be delivered right to a Senator's desk
• Email your legislators by filling out this form http://leg.mt.gov/css/Sessions/61st/legwebmessage.asp

Don't know who your Senator is? FIND OUT! http://nris.mt.gov/gis/legislat/2009/

P.S. The full Senate will consider the budget on Wednesday morning. 15,000 kids are counting on you to contact your Republican Senator TODAY! Have you already taken action on this issue? Please we need you to do it again!