• On Jan. 14, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 289 to 139 to approve the reauthorization of the bipartisan State Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization, H.R. 2. Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) released a statement commending the decision. “This bill goes a long way toward helping children grow up healthy and strong. As families up and down the Central and South coasts and across the country continue to struggle in these challenging economic times, providing this healthcare coverage is all the more important,” Capps said in the release. “Enacting this measure to protect and enhance the children’s health insurance program will be one of the first, best signs of the positive change brought to Washington by the new Obama Administration. For millions of children and their families this change can’t come soon enough.” The program started in 1997 to provide healthcare coverage to children of families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private health insurance. The legislation passed by the House provides healthcare coverage for 11 million children. The legislation is similar to bipartisan legislation that was twice vetoed by President George W. Bush in the 110th Congress. President Obama has expressed support for the measure and Congress is working to get this bipartisan children’s health bill to Obama’s desk soon after he takes office.
• Think you can cut it at the Capitol? The application deadline for the 2009-10 California Senate Fellows program is Feb. 25. The fellowship is a paid, yearlong internship with the State Senate. Fellows are full-time staff members who work on legislation, research, bill analysis, speechwriting, and constituent communications. Participants get firsthand experience in California’s government and the political process. In a release to the media, State Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) said, “I would like to encourage all eligible students interested in politics and government to apply for this highly regarded program … I have been a supporter of the Fellowship for many years. I have had Fellows in the past, and each has gone on to be successful in various jobs in the political arena.” For more information about the fellowship and application instructions, visit the program web sites at sen.ca.gov/ftp/sen/fellows_home or csus.edu/calst/senate.
This article appears in Jan 22-29, 2009.
