The New York Times-20080128-Vetoing History-s Responsibility- -Editorial-

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Vetoing History's Responsibility; [Editorial]

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President Bush's threat to veto a bill intended to improve health care for the nation's American Indians is both cruel and grossly unfair. Five years ago, the United States Commission on Civil Rights examined the government's centuries-old treaty obligations for the welfare of Native Americans and found Washington spending 50 percent less per capita on their health care than is devoted to felons in prison and the poor on Medicaid.

A bipartisan bill to begin repairing this shameful situation is now on the Senate floor. It takes aim at such long neglected needs as the plight of urban Indians, who account for two-thirds of the nation's 4.1 million tribal population. Most of the American Indians and Alaska natives living in cities are either ineligible for, or unable to reach, the limited help of the Indian Health Service's reservation-based programs. During the Bush years the White House has sought to eliminate -- not bolster -- the severely underfinanced Urban Indian Health Program.

Studies have established that Native Americans suffer worse than average rates of depression, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The Senate bill would improve treatment for these problems, as well as address alcohol and substance abuse, and suicide among Indian youth. It would expand scholarship help so more American Indians could pursue careers in health care.

The administration insists it wants to improve health care for Native Americans. But it objects to the most basic parts of the Senate measure, including its provisions for better urban health programs and its proposal to provide better access to Medicaid and Medicare. Officials also reject the bill's proposal to build new clinics because it would require the government to pay construction workers prevailing local wages and benefits.

The nation has clear legal and moral obligations to protect the welfare of Native Americans. Congress must rebuff President Bush's veto threat and vote overwhelmingly to strengthen and reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.