CHIPS started back in 1999. Hidalgo County had 28,834 kids on CHIPS. Aaron even authored HB 109 back in 2003.
Joint Authors Date Signed On
Davis, John 03/13/2007
Dukes 01/11/2007
England 01/31/2007
Pena 01/22/2007
So, you could literally say Aaron was the one who wrote the new version of the CHIPS bill. He took a little out of here. Then he took a little out of there. And the CHIPS bill became HB 109. Written by Aaron Pena.
In 1999 there were 28,834 kids on CHIPS. In January 2008 there are only 18,076. Which means 10,758 Hidalgo County kids are without health insurance because of the bill Aaron Pena wrote.
I got my numbers from Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
What other people are saying about the bill.
While CSHB 109 would make progress toward providing Texas children
with more health benefits, it would not ensure coverage of the maximum
number of children in need of health care. More children in need could be
served through the elimination of the assets test.
CHIP policy in the majority of states recognizes the variety of reasons that families still in need of health coverage may maintain a reasonable amount of assets.
Texas and Oregon are the only states that have implemented assets tests.
While it does prevent some abuse, the assets test, regardless of how high
limits are set, causes children in need to lose CHIP coverage. The mere
threat of losing coverage is a disincentive for families to make the
responsible decision to save.
Now you know why Craddick is an issue in this race. Aaron Pena designed a bill that would keep 10,758 kids off the CHIPS program. This is a sad day. When you find out your local st rep. revised a bill that would do this to children.
