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| 2003-05-14 | Democratic Legislators Urge Governor to Veto Senate Bill 105 Letter asks Murkowski to reject Republican plan to cut insurance for children and pregnant women |
Additional information: JUNEAU – House and Senate Democrats today delivered a letter to Governor Frank Murkowski strongly urging him to veto Senate Bill 105. The bill limits eligibility for the nationally acclaimed Denali KidCare program. The effects of SB105 are drastic and will result in over 1,200 children and 120 pregnant women being dropped from the program in 2004. There will also be a substantial increase in the number of ineligible pregnant women and children in the years following. Democratic legislators said the effect of this legislation is to punish the children of Alaska and disproportionately effect a segment of our population that is least able to adjust to the changes. SB105 freezes income levels for Denali KidCare eligibility, and it rolls back criteria for qualification so that children who currently have health insurance will lose their coverage. SB105 was introduced on behalf of the Murkowski administration, but the bill that passed on the House and Senate floors was significantly modified and much more harmful than its original version. ### | |