All Kids health program signed into law- probable dem challenger mentioned

All Kids program signed into law
By Eric Krol
Daily Herald Political Writer
Posted Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Every child in Illinois without health insurance will be eligible for coverage starting July 1 after Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed into law Tuesday a measure creating the state’s new All Kids program.“We are going to do for our working families what should have been done a long time ago,” said Blagojevich at a Southwest Side field house, accompanied by Democratic Senate President Emil Jones Jr. of Chicago. “Nothing is more important than making sure kids have health care.” All Kids aims to cover the 125,000 poor children whose parents still haven’t signed them up for state-sponsored health coverage. The remaining 125,000 children whose parents make too much money for free coverage will be able to enroll in a state program with premiums. A family making $60,000 a year would pay $40 a month and a $10 co-pay for doctor’s visits. More information is available at allkidscovered.com.

The new program can’t start soon enough for the 16,000 children the state removed this year from its current Kid Care program after their families’ incomes increased too much, making them ineligible.
Republican critics said Blagojevich’s $45 million plan was rushed through the General Assembly this month without much planning as a way to boost the governor’s sagging public approval ratings.
Blagojevich looked relaxed and confident at Tuesday’s appearance, with his 2-year-old daughter, Annie, stealing the spotlight by grabbing her father’s hand as he delivered his remarks to an audience of schoolchildren who were given a folder with his autographed picture inside.The governor has been beleaguered in recent months by a widening federal probe into state hiring at several departments under his control. The All Kids passage represented one of his biggest victories of the year, supporters said. “This is not a give-away program,” said state Sen. Terry Link, a Waukegan Democrat, calling the legislation “momentous.” Blagojevich now faces a potential Democratic primary challenge. Former Chicago Alderman Edwin Eisendrath is circulating nominating petitions and said he’ll make up his mind in two weeks whether to run in the March 21 primary.Blagojevich, who has $14.3 million and rising in his campaign account, didn’t seem worried. “I think anybody in America ought to be able to pursue their dreams,” he said.

www.dailyherald.com

That sounds like a non-starter...

Do you really think topinka or any other gop official wood?

trying to pass an honest budget after a generation of thug corruption, and still take care of a basic need that is supposed to be at the head of the democrat platform. mopping up as dems always are. so, who loves him? you cannot be good enough for most dems. we have got to stop chasing these red herrings. stop bashing dems over chump change people.

What a concept!!!!!

It has always amazed hell out of me how Illinois can be so corrupt in SO many ways politically, but the Dems manage to be so quick to jump on our own for not being "pure" enough Democrats... The bloated budgets in Illinois Government didn't happen under Blag's watch--they came about thru years of GOP patronage. He's trying to clean up the mess, and he's getting hell for it. I know there ARE jobs that have been left unfilled that may be needed--but the man is working with a huge mess--GIVE him a break here!

I have seen health care advocates that are lukewarm on this most recent health care initiative for IL kids, and the stated reason for that is that it doesn't do enough. I've seen the same thing with other health care issues (jeesh--they are WORKING on Universal Health Care here, and nobody gives him any credit for that...)

Similarly, I find it maddening that Blag has TRIED to do something about the prescription costs and THAT is met with disdain. Same thing with the Flu shots last year, the same thing with contraceptive prescriptions... The list goes on from there.

Blag was not my choice in that primary, and I will be the first to admit that he leaves me cold on a personal level. He IS, however, our DEMOCRATIC Governor, and that is enough, as far as I am concerned. As an active Dem in this state, I'm gonna get a whole lot further calling his people than I ever would with a GOP staff and GOP Governor. THAT is enough to keep me from messing with Blag while he holds office. My guess is that holds true for the rest of you too.

I get annoyed with m fellow IL Dems some days.



Laura

How can he be so corrupt and dirty. I think since both or papers and the major radio station is so right wing is that there a conspiracy against blago too make him look bad as possible. Thats the only way the rethugs can win is by tearring down the competition.
And it's amazing people would rather complain about BLago than George Ryan.

he has to clean up 3 decades of GOP corruption.