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Delay on Children's Health Care Bill

February 26, 1998
By: Tristin Yeager
State Capital Bureau

Yet another day of debate on the Senate floor delays a vote on the children's health care bill. Tristin Yeager reports from the state capitol.

Discussion of the original bill took a back seat while senators debated amendments and amendments to the amendments.

Republican Senator Peter Kinder, who does not support the version of the bill on the floor, denies the discussion is an attempt to filibuster.

Actuality:kinder1.wav
RunTime: :12.260
OutCue: "...amendments we want to offer."
Contents: Kinder says it is absurd to talk about filibustering the bill at this point and adds that the Senate has rules permitting unlimited debate and there are people who still want to offer amendments to the bill.

If passed, the current version of the bill would pay for health care for all children whose families make at or less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level.

The bill that would create a children's health care plan for a family of four making up to 48 thousand dollars faced another day of debate on the Senate floor. Tristin Yeager reports from the state capitol.

If passed, the bill would establish a program to pay for health care for uninsured children. The plan would cover families with incomes at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level.

Senate Democratic Leader and bill sponsor, Edward Quick:

Actuality:quick1.wav
RunTime: :18.023
OutCue: "...don't want to see the legislation passed."
Contents: Quick says this debate reminds him of the filibuster on the same issue during last year's session and that he believes the people who continue to discuss the issue don't want to see the legislation passed.

Quick says he intends to bring the bill up for discussion at every Senate session until a vote on the bill is taken.

Accusations and defenses were heard on whether or not some state Senators were filibustering in order to prevent a vote on the children's health care bill. Tristin Yeager reports from the state capitol.

For the second day, senators discussed a bill that would provide health care to uninsured children in the state.

Republican Senator Peter Kinder does not support the current version of the bill.

Actuality: kinder2.wav
RunTime: :16.573
OutCue: "...certainly Republicans do, by tax credits."
Contents: Kinder says rather than a huge expansion of a government health care program, the goal of insuring uninsured children can be accomplished by tax credits.

Kinder has also introduced a children's health care bill and says his bill has been endorsed by the three major children's hospitals in the State of Missouri, including St. Louis Childrens.