Senate Democrats Share Governor’s Commitment To Making Healthy Kids a Top Priority

Children’s Health Committee will vote on comprehensive kids health plan in October.

Photo by: Tim King

(SALEM) - Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson (D-Gresham) Chair of the Senate Committee on Children’s Health, released the following statement late Monday in conjunction with the Governor’s announcement of the Healthy Kids Plan:

“After months of hard work and multiple bill drafts, I am pleased to announce that our committee will vote in October to introduce legislation that will guarantee affordable health care for all children in Oregon.

“The committee bill, which has been developed in close consultation with the Governor, will create the Healthy Kids Program by combining existing resources with a new pooling plan, and by establishing a dedicated account in the state treasury for children’s health. The account will be funded through an increase in the tobacco tax, which Senate Democrats join the Governor in supporting to ensure every child in Oregon has health care coverage.

“Today, there are 117,000 uninsured children in Oregon, and 60,000 of those children are already eligible for existing programs, but not enrolled. The Healthy Kids Program will remedy that situation by streamlining and simplifying the enrollment process and maximizing our use of federal match dollars. The plan will also provide much needed assistance to the tens of thousands of additional children who are neither eligible for nor enrolled in current programs.

“Earlier this year, when Senate Democrats announced their legislative agenda for 2007, we made children’s health care a centerpiece of our commitment. Today, we are pleased to join the Governor in taking another important step toward fulfilling that commitment.”