Last week, California legislators came together across party lines (yes, you read that right!) to support a bill that would prevent a 37% budget cut to our state’s Healthy Families Program.  Hooray!

The Healthy Families Program provides health insurance to nearly 900,000 children in California. This bill to stop the cuts to the Healthy Families Program is important because cuts would have left hundreds of thousands of kids at risk of losing their health coverage.[1]

Now this critical children’s health coverage protection bill has been sent to the Governor’s desk for him to sign.

Send a letter to Governor Brown now urging him to sign the bill and keep children’s health coverage strong:  http://action.momsrising.org/letter/CAKidsHealthCare/

This bill has to sustain the Healthy Families Program won strong bi-partisan support from legislators--and even from the state's manged care providers, who, if the bill is signed, would continue to provide a small portion of their revenue to support the Healthy Families Program. [2]

Let’s make sure Governor Brown signs on the dotted line to protect children's health care!  http://action.momsrising.org/letter/CAKidsHealthCare/

We all have a stake in making sure children get the health care they need.  Research demonstrates that children with health insurance learn better.  For example, California children who newly enroll in health coverage have been shown to have a nearly 63% improvement in performance and paying attention in class.[3]  Modest investments in health coverage help us leverage our considerable state investments in education for our children.

At a time when California’s unemployment remains in the double digits, many parents don’t have any employer-based coverage or enough money to buy individual coverage.

It’s critical that we support families during these tough times as an investment in California’s future.

Together we’re a powerful voice for children and families!

***UPDATE***

We have great news!  Last Friday, Governor Brown signed a bill (AB x1 21) that keeps the Healthy Families Program funding steady so the program may continue to provide health insurance for nearly 900,000 kids in California.

Earlier in the week, you and nearly 1,000 MomsRising members sent letters and called the Governor's office in support of this bill.  Your effort paid off!

A press release about Governor Brown's signature explains the significance of this success: "This law will help maintain health coverage for thousands of children and teenagers through the Healthy Families Program. It will raise more than $200 million in new revenue, bring in an additional $300 million in federal funds, and save the General Fund $103 million this year."

You can read the full press release here: http://www.gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=17220

Great work and thanks for standing with us to support health coverage for California's kids!

[1] California Healthline, August 18, 2011

[2] Text of AB x1 21

[3] 100% Campaign, Fact Sheet