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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, June 10, 2006
For
Media Assistance
Sacramento, CA--Today the Legislative Budget Conference
Committee made children's health care a priority
through the passage of several important items. These
decisions pave the way for California to move smoothly
and quickly into a statewide solution for covering all
kids, which will be made possible by the passage of the
Tobacco Tax Act of 2006 - an initiative expected to qualify
for the November 2006 ballot.
The Conference Committee decided, among other things,
to:
- Provide approximately $23 million to insure children
through local Children's Health Initiative programs.
- Provide state resources of nearly $2 million to begin
establishing a statewide, comprehensive health care
program for children in families with incomes at or
below 300% of the poverty level.
- Provide financial incentives to community-based providers
who help children enroll in health coverage via the
use of electronic applications.
Wendy Lazarus, co-founder and co-president of The Children's
Partnership, said, "We're pleased that the
committee has recognized the need for funding for children's
health care until a sustainable, statewide solution to
children health coverage is in place. This commitment
is a critical bridge to the Tobacco Tax Act of 2006,
which will secure a stable source of funding for covering
all kids this year and in the future. The public wants
to see our elected officials provide this kind of leadership
for kids, and tens of thousands of children will be able
to get vital health care as a result of it."
"The proposed budget's start up and interim funding
is one essential step toward ensuring all children have
access to affordable comprehensive health insurance," said
Ted Lempert, President of Children Now. "In
addition, we will continue to pursue children's
health policy improvements through our legislation, SB
437 (Escutia, Chan, Frommer), as another core element
in building a solid foundation for a statewide solution
to children's health insurance, such as that proposed
by the initiative."
Californians for Healthy Kids commends the Committee
for its actions to expand health coverage for children. We
also commend Governor Schwarzenegger for his leadership
in making children's health a priority in the state
budget this year. We now urge the full legislature
to adopt this budget package and encourage the Governor
to sign it to help California move toward providing ALL
children with affordable health insurance.
The 100% Campaign, a collaborative
effort of Children Now, Children's Defense Fund
and The Children's Partnership, with primary funding
from The California Endowment, was created to ensure
that all of California's children obtain the health
coverage they need to grow up strong and healthy.
The PICO California Project
is the united effort of 20 California congregation-community
organizations affiliated with the PICO National
Network. Collectively, we represent 350 congregations
and 400,000 families statewide and are actively
organizing in over 70 cities in Northern and
Southern California.
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