Kids‘ insurance deal inching closer

Senate Democrats are cutting back on their proposed expansion of a health insurance program for children, a Republican lawmaker involved in the discussions said Tuesday.

Emerging from a meeting with other members of the Senate Finance Committee, Hatch said Democrats would pay for the expansion through an increase in the federal excise tax on tobacco, which now stands at 39 cents a pack.

The Bush administration has proposed adding $5 billion to the program over the next five years — on top of the $25 billion available under current spending levels.

More than 6 million people, including about 600,000 adults, get health insurance coverage each year through SCHIP. The federal government pays for about 70 percent of the program‘s costs, while states pay the rest.

Hatch called the amount still too high, while Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., left the meeting saying there were things she would do differently, but in the end, the bill would fulfill the goal of expanding health insurance coverage to more children.

source:www.onelocalnews.com