Santa Clara County leaders push ballot measure that would rescue children's health care coverage

San Jose Mercury News ^ | 7/05/2010 | Karen de Sá

[ProtectOurFreedom]

In an urgent attempt to maintain universal health coverage for children in Santa Clara County, community leaders are organizing a campaign to rescue one of the region's landmark programs for working poor families. Their goal is to win broad support for a November ballot measure that would pump $13.5 million per year into the Healthy Kids program through a $29-a-year parcel tax on county property owners. County leaders recognize the challenge: Asking voters in a down economy to assist other families who can't afford insurance for their children.

The program — now serving 8,500 children — is a core piece of a far larger children's health initiative begun in 2001 and considered the first of its kind in the nation. Twenty-eight other counties have tried to mimic its success in linking 97 percent of children with heath insurance.

But that could quickly change, proponents of the November ballot measure warn, given the ailing economy's impact on private donors and foundations that are critical to Healthy Kids' survival but drying up at the end of 2010.

Like so many other social welfare programs in California, coverage for uninsured children faces a dubious future if new funding streams are not found, said Kathleen King, Saratoga's mayor and executive director of the Santa Clara Valley Health Foundation.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

These welfare advocates are insane. The state, county and most cities are completely broke, yet they still search for the magical elixir of "new funding streams."

But, if I know my Santa Clara County voters, we'll gladly fork over the money.

[pnh102]

I wonder how many parents “who cannot afford health insurance for their children” also cannot afford things like high end cell phones with lots of minutes, texting and data plans (about $70 to $100 a month), cable TV with premium channels (another $100 or so a month) or broadband internet access ($40 to $60 a month and up).

[EagleUSA]

Welfare has destroyed Taxifornia, along with every other liberal mechanism. But these taxing fools cannot lose their national title of the biggest welfare meccca in the nation.

And the bums and illegals just keep coming....thanks to the liberals.

[American Quilter]

I wonder what the proportion of taxpaying voters to non-taxpaying voters is in that county. My conservative sister and brother-in-law live there, and are counting the days until he can retire and they can flee!

[tacticalogic]

I was in Santa Clara for a week back in May for some software training. About half the buildings were empty.

[jeannineinsd]

I was interested in this comment towards the end of the article:

"The program's local and private funding grants it independence. Healthy Kids is the only program in the local health initiative that does not require proof of legal residency. Thus, many on the program will not be eligible for assistance under the recently passed national health care reform legislation."

It seems this program is going broke because of illegal immigrants.

[CygnusTheSwan]

"The program's local and private funding grants it independence. Healthy Kids is the only program in the local health initiative that does not require proof of legal residency..."

Awesome, I live in New Hampshire, I'm signing my kids up for this, if Kalifornia doesn't care, neither do I.

/sarc

[Greysard]

I was in Santa Clara for a week back in May for some software training. About half the buildings were empty.

That is true. The industry is fleeing the state. One must be a complete fool today to start or expand a business here.

[Libertynotfree]

Nothing’s new, they always use the kids to get money from voters.

[fremont_steve]

Hah! I live in Alameda county just over the border in Fleamont so I won’t be subject to this silly thing. Whoops - Alameda is dumber than Santa Clara across the boards...silly me!

Besides - isn’t Obamacare suppose to take care of the children? Why should Santa Clara tax payers pay more?? I bet you this goes down to defeat. SC isn’t nearly as dumb as Alameda county is. They’ve turned down a pretty large number of tax hikes over the years. (Actually I’m an ex-Milpitas resident..)

Good luck with this - I just get to worry about whatever my city tries to do with the A’s....save me from idiot politicians! (Like my great rep Pete Stark)