KIDDIECARE: Lawmakers Want Pregnant Women Covered

      A new measure -- proposed jointly by "long-time foes on abortion issues," Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) -- would "extend government-paid health care coverage to more uninsured pregnant women," the New York Daily News reports. The bill would permit states to use funding they are slated to receive under the $24 billion Children's Health Insurance Program to cover women whose incomes are between 175% of federal poverty level -- the Medicaid cutoff -- and 225% of the poverty level. Lowey, "a leading pro-choice spokeswoman," said, "Although I disagree with Henry Hyde on the issue of abortion, we absolutely agree that no woman in America should go without health coverage during pregnancy." Lowey's office cited statistics indicating that 5% of New York City moms in 1996 were uninsured. Hyde, "a long-time abortion foe, said the bill 'offers important safeguards to women who are waiting in great anticipation of one day giving life to healthy children'" (5/8).