New Hampshire House Subcommittee Votes Against Proposal to Use $3.3 Million in State Money to Fund CHIP

A New Hampshire House Finance subcommittee voted down a proposal to add $3.3 million in state funding to the state's CHIP program, called Healthy Kids Silver, the Portsmouth Herald reports. In revising the Department of Health and Human Services budget, the GOP-led subcommittee voted 5-3 along party lines not to include funding for the program, which offers health insurance for children whose annual family incomes are between 185% and 300% of the poverty level, or between $32,650 and $52,950 for a family of four. The $3.3 million was the first state funding proposed for the program, which has relied on private funds over the past two years to finance the program and receive federal matching dollars. State Republican lawmakers have "consistently objected" to offering coverage to families at the 300% level. In voting against the funding, Rep. Fran Wendelboe (R) said she "couldn't believe someone making $40,000 a year couldn't come up with another $10 toward a premium" to cut the program's costs. However, Ellen Shemitz, president of the Children's Alliance, criticized the committee, saying, "The vote ... is a vote against children, families and communities. It is a vote that rejects the wisdom of preventive care, and it is a vote that puts unwise and shortsighted fiscal considerations before the long term social, medical and fiscal health of our state." Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D) said the subcommittee vote reflects the Republican "vision" for the state budget. "[I]t is clear that House Republican leaders are working to cut essential state services to New Hampshire's most vulnerable citizens," she said. The subcommittee is continuing to work on the department's budget and will report to the full committee next week. The House vote on a new state budget is scheduled for April 19 (Buchanan, Portsmouth Herald, 4/3).