1% For Kids Campaign

By Chris Kromm / November 29, 2006

Earlier today, I reported on the 600,000 kids in 17 states that are at risk of losing health insurance, thanks to a $921 million shortfall in federal spending for the Children's Health Insurance Program.

In light of President Bush's request for $127-$150 billion for "emergency war spending," a number of people have emailed to support an idea I floated at DKos: the 1% For Kids Campaign.

Let's ask President Bush to take 1% of the money he's proposing for war, and use it to fund CHIP and make sure 600,000 kids have health care.

By my calculations, it would take less than 1% -- just .6% of the $150 billion figure -- to wipe out the shortfall and restore much-needed health coverage for children.

But 1% is a nice even figure, and would give the CHIP program a little extra cushion -- something Halliburton and other beneficiaries of "emergency war spending" can relate to.

What do you think? Do we have a winning campaign here?

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