WA House passes health care expansion bill for children

OLYMPIA -- A measure that will provide health care coverage to thousands of more children in the state heads to the desk of Gov. Chris Gregoire, after the state House passed the bill Tuesday.

The House vote was 68-28, with several Republicans voting against the measure. The Senate passed the bill earlier this session and Gregoire is expected to sign it.

House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, said the bill, Senate Bill 5093, would fulfill the promise the state made to have all children in Washington covered by 2010.

"This bill is about children," Kessler said. "Poor children and middle class children ... We cannot continue talking and talking and talking and finding excuses why we can't do it."

An estimated 73,000 children in the state are without insurance, with about two-thirds of those eligible for government help. Lawmakers added enough money to expand state health coverage to about 10,000 kids last session.

The measure passed this session would provide coverage to 38,000 more children in the next two years.

Republicans warned that the bill would not be effective, lead to more large employers not providing health insurance for employee family members, does not focus on helping the poor and provides coverage to children of illegal immigrants and not poor adults.

"It's another false promise to Washington state that won't be delivered on," said Erickson.