Senate passes SCHIP expansion.

This is good news and will ensure coverage for immigrant children. Previously, these children have been denied adequate healthcare and had to wait 5 years to get any medical coverage. Bush had vetoed the expansion to the bill.

Senate Democrats moved one step closer to handing President Barack Obama an early health care victory Thursday, passing a bill extending government-sponsored health insurance coverage to about 4 million uninsured children.
The bill, which was approved 66-32, authorizes an additional $32.8 billion over the next 4 1/2 years for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. The House plans to take up the same measure next week.
Even with the added spending, an estimated 5 million children still would be without health insurance. During his election campaign, Obama called for requiring all children to have health coverage.
“When President Obama signs this bill, the real victory will belong not to politicians, but to kids,” said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.

Wow, a step in the right direction. I don’t know what is going on, what does the government exist to ensure the health of its people? I forgot about that.

via AP.