Walker Asks Congress To Renew Children’s Insurance Program

Gov. Scott Walker is calling on Congress to renew the Children’s Health Insurance Program which sends $115 million in federal payments to Wisconsin.

Walker on Tuesday sent House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell a letter urging renewal of the program that faces an uncertain future in Congress.

Walker’s call echoes that made by Democrats in Wisconsin who have also been pushing for renewal.

CHIP provides low-cost coverage to children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. But it has become caught up in a political stalemate over how to fund it.

The program helps to cover nearly 118,000 children in Wisconsin.

Walker tells the Republican congressional leaders Wisconsin has enough money to insure children into next year, but after that would have to pick up the tab if the federal government ends the program.