What about the parents on a fixed Income (ie. medically disabled).. If my wife loses her job, (heaven for bid) with my situation and health issues, I would not be able to find (let alone pay for) insurance, as for my kids, (sure they get SSI) until they are 18 (or graduate high School) that money is for THEIR survival, clothing, books for school, and stuff they need, they should not have to pay for insurance, so they would be (also) out of luck as to getting insurance..

I agree with you deltafox5674. I live in Florida and we have a healthy kid program. Every child in Florida can get insurance. I believe it is regardless of your income. And guess what we just voted to lower our property taxes. And as far as the illegals in the country I had a flat tire the other day, and although i'm very capable of changing it out of the 1oo cars that passed only one stopped and asked if I needed help was some landscapers in a pick up who obviously were illegal. I felt so good about that when I got off the highway I was stopped at a light where a homeless lady was selling homeless voice newspapers in the hot sun. It's a paper the homeless sell. So I gave her a buck. not much but I felt like pay it forward. Just because you have a roof over your head, your proberly one check away from a bad situtation and may not be getting food stamps or health care but your life can change in a split second and then you will wish your village is helping you. So let the kids have good teeth and health because if they don't there going to feel bad and take it out on you.

I think the state should stop focusing all the attention to just folk that have kids. I am a tax payer with a college education. I need health insurance too. If the state is going to cover KIDS they should take care of everyone who is US CITIZEN.

I too am paying so much money for health insurance thru work it is affecting every other aspect of my life. It is frustrating to be responsible and pay my own way when I do see so many working the system or being "baby daddies". Illegal aliens should not be collecting benefits. Right now tho, we are paying for all of those who don't have insurance. They go to the Emergency Room/Urgent Care or they get reduced rates at the clinics and pharmacy's. What they can't pay gets tacked onto the rest of us increasing our costs. So if they have a chance to pay into a program like Badger Care and go to a clinic it is cheaper for all of us. Also there are a lot of young adults coming off their parents insurance that can not afford to pay these premiums and this gives them a chance to pay into a program that will keep them healthy.

It's a good argument from both sides of the table. However, I still have to reiterate the 'Help those who help themselves' theory. Helping others that are down on their luck or those who are less fortunate isn't the problem, as long as they are making the effort to work and provide for and support their children. I just don't like giving to the ones that will just leach off the system while they sit at home with 5 or six kids and no job at all.

I think this program can be successful as long as they enforce the proposed fee structure. If they are working and trying, they will able to get benefits for a reasonable and affordable cost. Those who leach will get nothing if they can't pay the minimal fees.

Why would u complain about money when u can pay for your own insurance and many people in Wisconsin cannot pay for there insurance and gas. were do u work I bet u get more then 7.25 an hr. And the people that talk about the parents are responsible for there children u are write. And u are responsible for paying your taxes and so am I . one question what about the old people than need food stamps and health care from than state. I don't see u talking about them why not blame the multi billion dollar profits from Exxon Mobil

To all those peoploe who think the Government should take care of them, someday will wish they had more freedom to chose, Today all we do is cripe about this and cripe about that, what about taking some responsibilty in your life

Nacny_Jo:

Yes, all children, irrespective of citizenship.

Rickwantsmoney:

Just think the leading Presidential candidate has a plan to garnish your wages if you do not pay for health insurance. Your 646/mth will look like a bargain if this plan is implemented...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/us/pol...

Does "All children" mean all the illeagal alians that come to WI for our state benefits? If so I am against it!! See way to many so called immigrants using food stamps, WIC, health benefit cards, etc..., most do not even seem to be able to speak english. BOTH parents(mother AND father) and children should have proper state ID to gain these benefits.

Rickwantsmoney:

What is your solution? Gov't intervention? Adding another layer of bureaucracy? Have the same people who cannot produce passports for 3 million citizens manage the health care industry for 300 million citizens?

My spouse and I pay $646.11 A MONTH out of our pockets for our OWN health insurance. What about US? How are adults expected to work and support children when they can't afford to take care of their OWN health? I know a ton of people who only bring home twice that as their entire monthly income. Our health care system stinks, and I wish the government would finally wake up to that fact.

I can see by the tone of the argument that everyone seems to forget that the children do not choose to whom they are born to, and I think that it is criminal to punish children for the mistakes of their parents. Denying them basic health care is a horrible idea, and to put a few dollars of your precious tax money before the life of a child is the true downfall of this society. Maybe if this "religious" culture could pull its collective heads out of its behind and see this is what Jesus was trying to teach, was to help the less fortunate, like CHILDREN, people would see this with a different perspective. I don't see this as a choice, but a necessity.

If one can't handle the responsibilty of their action and support their child they could give it up for adoption. Or as much as I don't like it as a form of birth control the courts also say one could get an abortion. I am ok with helping people that are down on their luck. I have no problem helping people get back on their feet. But if the state is paying for their kids heath care I think they should mandate a healthy lifestyle. No junk food and get some exercise. No killing your kids becaues someone else is picking up the tab.

Isn't everybody posting here "somebody else's kid"? Help "somebody else's kid" today, and maybe "somebody else's kid" will return the favor. You just never know!

Yes, people have a right to procreate and yes, I have a right to not pay for THEM when I can't even keep up with my own property taxes (thanks Governor Doyle). I ESPECIALLY don't want to pay for children of illegal immigrants who are already going to likely get their college tuition paid for by my taxes while my children can't afford to go. Thanks again Governor Doyle for taking SUCH GOOD CARE of Wiscinsonites!

I suggest that if you have one child and cannot afford to get insurance for that child, that you will get your reproductive organs removed. You have no right having children if you can not care for them. If you have one child and your living on welfare, your reproductive organs again should be removed. You cannot care for your child, you cannot have children. PERIOD! I choose not to have children, I don't want to pay for anyone elses. If you are an immagrant (illegal or otherwise) and your not paying taxes and have 15 children (or 1), either go back to your country or pay taxes in ours. That alone would add a great deal of money to our state, which inturn could reduce taxes across the board for everyone else.

OK, so you think this is a bad idea?
What alternatives do you suggest?
The courts have ruled that people have a right to procreate. The sex education experts have told us that you can't stop young people from engaging in sexual activity. The schools teach them where, when and how to have sex and their peers pressure them to do so. The young men cannot, or in some cases, will not support their children. And life is full of risks so that bad things can happen to responsible people so that they may no longer be able to provide for their children. Children don't ask to be born. They have no control over their circumstances. We simply cannot ignore their needs. We are not barbarians.

As much as I want all kids to be happy and healthy I agree with nutty. Its just one more way that people that make the choice to have kids cost us that do not. Everytime you turn around other peoples kids are costing us money, from school tax to increased cost of products with safety features to save kids that have parents that do not watch them. You made the choice to have kids it should be your responsibility to make sure they are educated, safe, and healty.

That is the responsibility of the parents, not the state. This is a stupid idea that is going to cost me more money as a tax payer!