Thread: TX: Perry pushes low-cost health coverage, guest-worker prog

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/state/16635810.htm

Posted on Tue, Feb. 06, 2007



Perry pushes low-cost health coverage, guest-worker program

By JOHN MORITZ
STAR-TELEGRAM AUSTIN BUREAU

AUSTIN — Lawmakers should enact a plan that would give 2 million low-income Texans access to low-cost health coverage that would underwritten by state and federal dollars and they should pressure Congress to enact a guest-worker program to combat illegal immigration, Gov. Rick Perry said Tuesday in his biennial State of the State address.

Perry, a Republican who was elected to his second full term in November with a modest 39 percent of the vote in a five-way race, used his speech to a joint session of the Legislature to trumpet an expanding Texas economy and a vibrant business climate. But he also cautioned that too many Texans have been unable to share in the bounty.

“For many, times are very good,” Perry said. “But left out of the jubilation are nearly 4 million Texans who live in prosperity’s shadow rather than in its light.”

Perry vowed to spend the nearly four years remaining in his term embracing policies that he hopes will bridge the gap between rich and poor. And he proposed devoting more state resources to encourage private enterprise to assist in that effort.

The governor called his plan to extend health coverage to struggling residents “Healthier Texas.”

The plan would cost the state about $200 million for every 500,000 Texans who enroll. That expenditure would draw $300 million in matching funds from Washington.

“The financial cost would be modest, the social benefit extraordinary,” he said.

In addition, $3 billion could be endowed for cancer research.

Perry came into the House chamber for the fourth State of the State of his governorship under fire from his fellow conservatives over his decision last week to order state health officials to prepare to vaccinate all girls entering the sixth grade against the sexually transmitted disease that causes cervical cancer.

The move has sparked outrage from many conservatives who say it usurps parents’ rights, forcing them to make the decision to opt out if they object, rather that opting in if they want their daughters inoculated.

Perry addressed their concerns head on, disputing that the move might lead to increased teenage sex, He said he understood the concerns, but women’s health trump them.

In a lighter moment, the Texas governor picked a fight with the federal government by using a backhand reference to the New York City-based TV sitcom “Seinfeld,” by invoking a made-up holiday used in one episode.

“So in the spirit of that mythical holiday, Festivus, let me begin the airing of grievances with Washington,” Perry said amid chuckles from lawmakers and guests in the House gallery.

He then chastised the Bush administration for shuffling much of the cost of illegal immigration on to the states. Perry also said the feds were shortchanging Texas and other states on such programs as Medicaid

“In short, our message to Washington is this: Let Texans run Texas,” Perry said.

While waiting for Washington to act, Perry said, the Legislature should allocate $100 million for border security by emphasizing law-enforcement tactics like combating drug trafficking and human smuggling.

He also said his plan for a guest-worker program would not mean a free ticket to Texas for undocumented aliens.

“Those who come here illegally should not be rewarded with amnesty,” Perry said. “And .... those who hire illegal aliens should face tough penalties.”

Perry also called for allocating $50 million to turn out more nursing school graduates and for a $360 million increase in college financial aid.

“Ultimately, higher education is not about the buildings we fund, but the lives we improve,” he said

Is he going to insure all of his guest workers!!at taxpayer expense!!

They already do.