Children's health plan clears House in boost to Obama

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to more than double funding for a government health program for low-income children, taking the first step in President-elect Barack Obama's promise to ensure medical coverage for all kids.

The vote was 289-139 to add $32.3 billion over 4-years to the program. Congress in 2007 twice passed similar legislation that President George W. Bush vetoed, saying it would encourage families that can afford private coverage to drop it. If approved by the Senate, it may become one of the first measures signed by Obama after he takes office Jan. 20.

"Ensuring that every child in America has access to affordable health care is not just good economic policy, but a moral obligation," Obama said in a statement.

The additional money would bring the U.S. government's share of spending for the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP, to about $11 billion a year. Democrats in Congress have said they want to act quickly to expand coverage because the recession has made it harder for families to maintain health insurance.

"In the most civilized country in the world, no child should go without health care," said Democratic Representative Diana DeGette of Colorado. Many-low income families must turn to emergency rooms for their children's health care because they cannot afford insurance, she said.

The measure would allow an additional 4 million children to enroll. The House version is similar to a measure the Senate Finance Committee will consider tomorrow.

"We look forward to quick Senate action so we can look forward to making this the first bill signed into law by our new president Barack Obama," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said after the vote.

Obama promised during his campaign to overhaul the health-care system. SCHIP will expire at the end of March unless new funding is authorized.

Employers eliminated 2.6 million jobs in 2008, the most in any year since 1945, the Labor Department reported last week. That had a direct effect on health coverage because about 60 percent of Americans get their coverage through employers, according to Census Bureau data.

Republicans argued that the bill adds spending when Congress is debating a $1 trillion stimulus package.

"This bill will only put states and the federal government in deeper debt," said Eric Cantor of Virginia, the second- ranking House Republican.

Representative Anna Eshoo, a California Democrat, said the plan "is responsible because it is paid for." The measure would pay for the increased funding in part by raising the tax on a pack of cigarettes by 61 cents.