States are running out of health dollars for poor children

[ck4829]

Some states are warning that hundreds of thousands of poor children could lose their health insurance if Congress doesn't act soon to come through with more money for the program.

The situation is most severe in Georgia, where officials plan to stop enrolling kids in the state's PeachCare program starting March 11 because of a $131 million shortage.

The problem is that many states have nearly used up their annual federal subsidy for child health care, and it is not even midway through the fiscal year — a situation some are blaming on the formula by which the money is doled out by Washington. Congress has been unwilling so far to deliver more money.

The uncertainty is making it difficult for some states to draw up their new budgets, because they do not know how much they will ultimately get from Washington.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070222/ap_on_re_us/children_s_health

[Burma Jones]

1. Georgia should raise their taxes

instead of sucking at the Federal Teat.

[KamaAina]

2. Nice of the Ga. repukes to blame it on the Katrina evacuees

they consider the term "refugees" offensive. Thanks, AP! :grr:

Another problem, say critics, is that the funding is based on outdated census data. That has been especially problematic in states like Georgia where the population has swelled in recent years, in part because of an influx of Hurricane Katrina refugees.

But, but, but isn't Texas one of the states with a surplus? The ones from which Ga. wants to steal the $$$ to keep their own program afloat? In any case, most evacuees are still La. or Miss. residents (many voted in N.O. elections last year), and so should still be in those states' programs.

[Cleita]

3. You know all those federal tax breaks * gave to his rich friends, it's

time for the states to take those taxes for themselves. I'm sure there is enough gluttonously rich Georgians that aren't paying their fair share that could be tapped if the Georgia legislature is arm twisted into doing so.