N.J. moves closer to universal health care

Philadelphia Inquirer

New Jersey took an important step this week toward becoming one of the first states with universal health care when lawmakers approved a bill expanding a health insurance program for low-income families.

Legislators trimmed funding in many areas of the budget this year after Gov. Corzine prescribed "cold-turkey therapy" for the state's chronic overspending.

But they included $8.9 million in a bill that would require all children in the state to have health insurance and expand FamilyCare, the state health insurance program, to include more poor parents.