The Wall Street Journal (1/13, A14, Meckler) reports on the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), writing that Democrats in Congress are preparing for the signature of President-elect Barack Obama. The reauthorization is expected to "advance a longstanding effort in the more controversial area of immigration" by removing "a provision in place for more than a decade that bars legal immigrant children and pregnant women from federal health programs during their first five years in the U.S. Mr. Obama, who sponsored legislation lifting the ban when he was in the Senate, supports doing so now." The Journal predicts that some 400,000 more children would qualify for SCHIP benefits under the plan, painting this as a sign that Congress and Obama will be willing to address broader immigration reform.
The New York Times (1/13, A12, Pear) reports that removing the ban on immigrant participants has been "a goal of Hispanic groups since those benefits were terminated in 1996," and "could revive the emotional debate over immigration, as many Republicans want to establish stricter verification procedures to prevent illegal immigrants from getting health benefits." The Times notes that the measure would "give states the option of covering children and pregnant women." House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), however, "said Republicans had concerns about expanding the program, to immigrants or any other group, before the original purpose of the program was achieved. 'The program has not fulfilled its initial mission, to serve children of the working poor,' Mr. Cantor said in an interview."
In a posting on New York Times (1/12) "The Caucus" blog, Carl Hulse observed that the House is finalizing the bill in the final week of President Bush's term, adding that he twice vetoed similar measures because of Democrats' desire to expand funding to the program. "Given its strong support in both parties, approval of the measure is a lock. Democrats said the health aid was even more important now, given the economic distress many families are experiencing." The AP (1/12, Freking) also covered the story.
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