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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

WA Legislature Fast-Tracks Health Insurance for All Kids

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Monday, January 22, 2007   


Legislation providing health insurance for every child in Washington by 2010 is getting "fast track" treatment from lawmakers. If passed, the bill would make more working families eligible for state coverage plans, increase reimbursement rates for pediatricians so they'll take more poor patients, and boost outreach efforts. Liz Arjun of The Children's Alliance says the plan has solid bipartisan support, but in today's Senate hearing, there could be some quibbling over the details.

"There may be some folks who have particular concerns about very specific pieces of the bill, but it's going to be surprising if people come out and say: 'We don't like this.'"

Arjun expects legislators to approve the bill with minor changes, if any, and to continue the state's momentum in providing children's health care.

"Two years ago, we had 97,000 children that were uninsured; today we have 73,000, so we're making progress. This legislation really lays out the rest of the path to getting there."

If passed in its current form, the plan will cost the state $30 million, which the Governor has already budgeted, with another $30 million coming from the federal government.

The children's health care bill is SB 5093 (in the Senate) and HB 1071 (in the House). The hearing is scheduled today (1/22/07) at 1:30 PM in Senate Hearing Room 4 of the Cherberg Building, 304 15th Ave., in Olympia.




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