repugs still trying to deny children health care

GOP fails to limit children's health program

WASHINGTON – Senate Republicans fell short Wednesday in their effort to limit the expansion of a government health insurance program for lower-income children.

The Senate rejected the Republican proposal by a resounding 65-32 vote. Democratic lawmakers say the GOP's legislation didn't go far enough, covering only about 2 million uninsured children, or roughly half of the number that the Democrats' bill would cover.

The Senate is considering this week the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The program is a state-federal partnership designed to provide government-sponsored health insurance to children of the working poor.

Democrats are trying to more than double spending for the program, and President Barack Obama has urged Congress to quickly send him a children's health bill that he can sign into law. The House has already passed a bill comparable to the one before the Senate.

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