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Gov. Hickenlooper Joins Others To Urge Congress To Fund Children's Health Program

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Twelve governors of both parties are urging Congress to reauthorize funding for a popular children's health insurance program as soon as possible.

The recommendation involving the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, came in a letter to congressional leaders Tuesday.

Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Democratic Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper led the letter-writing effort. It was joined by the governors of Alaska, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Virginia.

John Hickenlooper John Kasich
Gov. John Hickenlooper with Gov. John Kasich (credit: CBS)

Fresh funding for the $14 billion CHIP program ran out Oct. 1. Since then, some states have relied on unspent funds. Others got a short-term reprieve in the two-week spending bill President Donald Trump signed Friday.

The governors said funding the program "without disruption" is something they can all agree on.

(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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