Jan
14
The US House of Representatives passed legislation that would expand the State’s Children’s Health Insurance Program today. Whoo!
SCHIP currently covers over six million children whose parents earn too much to qualify for Medicaid — the federal health insurance program for the poor — but who can’t afford private insurance. The bill’s supporters say the legislation would extend the program to an estimated four million additional children, paying for it with a 61-cent-per-pack increase in the federal tax on cigarettes.
This legislation passed both the US House and Senate in 2007, but was vetoed by President Bush. If this gets any farther, it’s expected to be one of the first pieces of legislation signed into law by President-elect Obama. Here’s hoping. Thanks to The Real McCain for the link.
