Interfaith groups call for CHIP in Senate

AUSTIN — Interfaith organizers accused Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on Wednesday of ignoring their requests to meet regarding a proposed Children’s Health Insurance legislation.

At a rally at the Capitol, Valley Interfaith leaders and others from around the state called on Dewhurst to follow the lead of the state House, which has already passed a bill to increase the CHIP eligibility period from six to 12 months, do away with a 90-day waiting period and loosen the asset test.

Dewhurst favors keeping eligibility at every six months, but annual renewal is a top priority for Interfaith leaders.

Interfaith leaders have asked several times in the last three years to meet with Dewhurst regarding CHIP, but their requests have gone unanswered, said the Rev. John Lasseigne, pastor at St. John the Baptist parish in San Juan.

“We certainly think he’s been dishonest with his campaign slogan of putting children first,” he said. “This is an easy and obvious way to impact the health of children, and he’s dodging it.”

Dewhurst’s spokesman said CHIP remains important to him and cited his work in 2003 to defend the program in the face of budget cuts.

He favors a shorter enrollment period, but is open to reviewing the asset test and the 90-day waiting period, said Rich Parsons, spokesman for Dewhurst. Parsons said the group has probably met with Dewhurst’s staff members.

“It’s my understanding that they’ve met with staff in the past, just like many other groups on many other issues have done,” Parsons said.

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Elizabeth Hernandez covers the state capital for Valley Freedom Newspapers. She is based in Austin and can be reached at (512) 323-0622.