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Senate Votes In Favor Of Child Health Care Expansion Bill

Posted on: Friday, 30 January 2009, 13:43 CST

In a 66-32 vote, the US Senate approved the expansion of a children’s health care bill that will bring care to an additional four million children.

The Senate approved a bill that will expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program cover up to 11 million children. The plan currently supports 7.4 million children.

President Barack Obama on Friday applauded Congress for working together to pass the bill.

"As the worsening economy causes families to lose their jobs and health insurance, it is vital that we redouble our efforts to ensure that every child in America has access to affordable health care," Obama said in a statement.

"That is why I am pleased that the Senate has joined the House in passing bipartisan legislation to provide health insurance to children whose families have been hurt most by this downturn.”

"Providing health care to more than ten million children through the Children's Health Insurance Program will serve as a down payment on my commitment to ensure that every American has access to quality, affordable health care."

However, only nine Republicans in the Senate voted in favor of the proposal because they claimed it removed provisions in earlier versions that prevented states from offering the program to higher-income families.

"It doesn't do us any good to add somebody to the government-run program if the only effect of that has caused them to lose their insurance policy from their family's employer," Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl, told Reuters.

The bill adds a 61 cent per pack increase in cigarette taxes in order to partially fund added coverage. The increase brings the total federal tax to $1 a pack.

According to Reuters, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, said she expected the House to approve a final version of the bill next week.

Former President George W. Bush vetoed similar bills during his presidency.

"It is a new era," said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat who helped write the legislation. "We have a new opportunity, and I think most senators are proud of the efforts we are undertaking to help more kids get better health insurance."

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On the Net:

• US Senate
• State Children’s Health Insurance Program

Source: redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports

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