"KIDS CARE" INSURANCE ADVANCES . . .According to a Capitol Report Press Release, "the era of big government is not over in Missouri. In fact, it may be getting even bigger under a bill, supported by Governor Carnahan, which the House gave first round approval to this week. HB 811, known as the 'Kids Care' bill extends and expands welfare, under another name, further locking Missouri's children into a cycle of dependency on government from the cradle to the grave." [Capitol Report Press Release, 4/24/97, prepared jointly by Missouri State Rep. Luann Ridgeway and Rep. Annie Reinhar] In 1993, President Clinton tried and failed to enact a government-controlled health care system, but he is now working with state Governors to pass "Kids Care" legislation, which will authorize the development of quasi-public, quasi-private corporations in every state for the purpose of providing low cost, subsidized insurance for children whose parents make too much to qualify for Medicaid. This legislation, which is being introduced all across the nation, tugs as the heart strings with the cry that it is "for the children", when in reality "Kids Care" "is a thinly veiled attempt at government take-over of the health care industry in Missouri and will only serve to make our society dependent on government by using our children as the excuse to achieve that goal." [Capitol Report, 4/24/97] HB 8ll is patterned after a similar program in Florida, which was sold to Florida citizens as being "for the children" without placing additional tax burdens on taxpayers; however, Florida is now seeking 13 million in tax dollars to fund the program. Opponents of "Kids Care" have concerns about adding more non-educational programs in our schools, given the academic crisis that now exists, believing that education tax dollars should be used exclusively for the purpose of improving academics in our schools and not for providing "school-based health insurance". Current Status: A final vote on HB 811 will take place the week of 4/28/97 -- a minimum of 82 votes are needed to pass HB 8ll. The Democratic leadership, by offering a series of three "substitute" amendments, employed a procedural tactic which blocked any substantive amendments to deal with the abortion issue. The amendment dealing with abortion that did pass is virtually meaningless. [Show Me THE FAX, Family Policy Center, 4/25/97] If HB 811 passes the House, it will be sent to the Senate. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you do not live in Missouri, check with your state senator or representative to find out about "Kids Care" legislation in your state. Please send FW any information you have on "Kids Care" in your state. CHINA - MOST FAVORED NATION . . .This summer, Congress will be voting for or against granting "Most Favored Nation" (MFN) trading status for the People's Republic of China. The United States has granted MFN status to China for the past 16 years, claiming that economic "engagement" would stop China's abuses of human rights and religious persecution. However, the abuses have continued -- 1) forced abortions; 2) the sale of dangerous weapons to our enemies; 3) reports that there are more Christians imprisoned for religious activity in China than in any other nation in the world; 4) Protestants arrested and tortured for holding prayer meetings, preaching, and distributing Bibles without state approval; 5) reports of a new wave of religious persecution in southern China, where "wall slogans" painted by the police read, "Catholics are not allowed to go to other areas and establish networks" and "Get rid of all illegal religious gatherings and activities"; and 7) Roman Catholic priests and bishops imprisoned for celebrating mass without official authorization. This systematic persecution threatens an estimated 70 million religious believers in China. According to Gary Bauer, President of Family Research Council, "We must take courage and confront China's human rights abuses. The price of not doing so is simply too high." [Source for article: In Focus, publication of FRC, "China -- Most Favored Nation?", 1997]PATENT LEGISLATION PASSES . . .On April 23, 1997, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 400 by a voice vote. According to Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), H.R. 400 overhauls the patent system, puts the U.S. patent system in jeopardy, and "diminishes the patent rights of the American people and thus in the long run will make America technologically inferior ..." Current Status: H.R. 400 will now be sent to the Senate. Contact your two U.S. Senators about this legislation, 202/224-3121.HAWAII SAME-SEX MARRIAGE UPDATE . . .The Hawaii House and Senate have compromised on the same-sex marriage issue by agreeing to pass a state constitutional amendment to "reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples", in exchange for "domestic partner" legislation, which will extend about 60 marriage-related benefits to unmarried partners, such as health care, pensions, worker's compensation, etc. The Senate has already passed the "domestic partners" legislation and a House vote is scheduled for 4/29/97. Both houses will vote on the constitutional amendment on 4/29/97. If both houses pass the constitutional amendment, the people of Hawaii will vote on the amendment in November, 1998. If Hawaii's legislature does not resolve the same-sex marriage issue, the state Supreme Court has promised that it will rule on the issue. Unfortunately, even if the amendment passes in 1998, there is no guarantee that Hawaii's Supreme Court will not legalize same-sex marriage. [On Watch In Washington, Intercessors for America, 4/23/97]RISING COST OF REGULATIONS . . .Since the first "Earth Day", April 22, 1970, the cost of environmental and risk regulations on the economy has risen from $80 billion per year in 1977 to an estimated $240 billion in 1997. [T.D. Hopkins, "Regulatory Costs in Profile," Center for the Study of American Business. 314/935-5662] Expenditures of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), one of many federal agencies involved in environmental policy, have risen from $l,289 billion in fiscal year 1971 to $7 billion in fiscal year 1997. Meanwhile, the EPA's staff has grown from 5,500 to over l4,370 (excluding part-time). [Earth Day Information Center, a project ofThe National Center for Public Policy Research, 4/97] |