Post by Logan on May 3, 2016 8:08:38 GMT -6
Work is set to start at 8:30 a.m. after a weeklong stalemate on several funding issues related to the K-12 budget appears to have been resolved.House and Senate Republican lawmakers indicated they were ready to debate and vote on a state-budget deal first thing Tuesday after another day of closed-door negotiations.
"It looks like things are moving along nicely," Speaker Pro Tem Bob Robson, R-Chandler, told fellow House members. Staff will work this evening on amendments and procedural moves needed to set the stage for debate of the $9.58 billion spending plan.
Meanwhile, advocacy groups rallied late Monday afternoon to draw attention to KidsCare, the federally funded health-care program for low-income kids. Arizona froze enrollment in the program in 2010 amid budget cuts, and is the only state without an active version of the Children's Health Insurance Program. Reinstating the program could cover about 30,000 kids.
The original budget proposal did not include a plan to reinstate KidsCare. Rumors circulated about whether it would be in the negotiated revised version -- at various points in the day it was in and out. Senate President Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert, has been a vocal opponent of lifting the freeze. Although the program is currently fully covered by federal funds at least through 2017, fiscal conservatives worry states could be left to cover some or all of the cost after that.
Read more: www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2016/05/02/arizona-house-senate-signal-budget-agreement/83852058/
Let's hope that the conservatives in Arizona come to their senses to reinstate the child health insurance program. While everyone deserves health care, it is especially appalling that children do not receive it since the preventative health care they receive as children can save enormous costs in the future. The argument can be made that adults can find a job to obtain health care, but what can children do to solve the unavailability of health insurance?
"It looks like things are moving along nicely," Speaker Pro Tem Bob Robson, R-Chandler, told fellow House members. Staff will work this evening on amendments and procedural moves needed to set the stage for debate of the $9.58 billion spending plan.
Meanwhile, advocacy groups rallied late Monday afternoon to draw attention to KidsCare, the federally funded health-care program for low-income kids. Arizona froze enrollment in the program in 2010 amid budget cuts, and is the only state without an active version of the Children's Health Insurance Program. Reinstating the program could cover about 30,000 kids.
The original budget proposal did not include a plan to reinstate KidsCare. Rumors circulated about whether it would be in the negotiated revised version -- at various points in the day it was in and out. Senate President Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert, has been a vocal opponent of lifting the freeze. Although the program is currently fully covered by federal funds at least through 2017, fiscal conservatives worry states could be left to cover some or all of the cost after that.
Read more: www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2016/05/02/arizona-house-senate-signal-budget-agreement/83852058/
Let's hope that the conservatives in Arizona come to their senses to reinstate the child health insurance program. While everyone deserves health care, it is especially appalling that children do not receive it since the preventative health care they receive as children can save enormous costs in the future. The argument can be made that adults can find a job to obtain health care, but what can children do to solve the unavailability of health insurance?