Oregon to Vote on Children's Health Care

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Source: Associated Press

Oregon to vote on children's health care
By JULIA SILVERMAN, Associated Press Writer

PORTLAND, Ore. - When Oregon residents weigh in Tuesday on whether to raise the state's cigarette tax to pay for an expansion of children's health care, their votes could resonate 3,000 miles away on Capitol Hill. Congress and the Bush administration have been wrangling over the same concept in their showdown over federal spending on the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

"If Oregon votes in the affirmative for this, it will be a shot in the arm," said U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Portland. "It will be harder for some people to ignore what the public sentiment is. Maybe they can ignore the polls, but this would be a signal victory."

On the flip side, if the measure fails in Oregon, widely viewed as a liberal-leaning state, it will be a serious setback for children's health advocates and a notch in the belt of tobacco companies.

"It's the symbolism," said Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski, who vigorously campaigned in support of the measure, even donating $200,000 from his own political action committee. "If you can defeat it here in Oregon, you send a chilling message to the rest of the country."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071106/ap_on_re_us/children_s_health_insurance