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April 10, 2005
House Budget Fails to Restore CHIP for 175,000 Children Cut in 2003
The Texas Democratic Campaign Committee reports that despite the best efforts by Democrats, the House budget fails to restore CHIP funding.
Texas has 1.4 million uninsured children, which is a travesty. As the Chronicle reports:
Since every state dollar for CHIP is matched by $2.65 cents in federal funds, by failing to provide slots for 175,000 otherwise eligible youngsters the state is passing up over $330 million in federal dollars.
I just don't understand the mindset of those who don't think providing health care for our children should be a top priority.
New Guest Blogger Sherle Watson adds:
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services site that provides information on the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) promotes it as a national initiative to link families to low-cost or free insurance programs. But in Texas, which has the highest percentage of uninsured children in the country, CHIP enrollment is in a free fall, courtesy of our state’s Republican leadership. From a peak enrollment of 529,211 children in May 2002, over 200,000 fewer children have the basic health coverage they need today. If the Texas House has its way, things are going to get worse. Complete program statistics are available through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
Welcome to the team Sherle!
Posted by Lyn Wall at April 10, 2005 05:19 PM | Permalink
Comments
This is just more of the Republican's cruel treatment of "the least of these". I guess in claiming to speak for Christ, they read a completely different version of the King James about caring for poor children. Appreciate the update on the bad news from the "dark side" in Austin.
Posted by: Susan Gates at April 10, 2005 11:06 PM