Wednesday, March 07, 2007

WA Senate passes kids health care expansion bill

A measure that would offer health care coverage to thousands more children now heads to the desk of Gov. Chris Gregoire, after the state House approved it Tuesday. The vote was 68-28, with several Republicans to vote for the measure. The Senate passed the bill earlier this session and Gregoire is predictable to sign it. House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, said the bill would fulfill the assure the state made to have all children in Washington enclosed by 2010.

"This bill is about children," Kessler said. "It is about Poor children and middle class children. We cannot maintain talking and talking and talking and finding excuses why we can't do it." A predictable 73,000 children in the state are without insurance, with about two-thirds of those qualified for government help. Lawmakers added sufficient money to develop state health insurance to about 10,000 kids last session.