Dems scrap kids' health plan in California

SACRAMENTO, June 20 (UPI) -- In California's state budget battle, Democrats have had to abandon a plan to fund county-based coverage for uninsured children.

Republicans objected to giving money to the county programs, which provide coverage to children even if they are undocumented, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The plan would have insured 800,000 children.

An estimated 12 percent of those children who would be covered are estimated to be illegal residents.

Democratic lawmakers have said they agreed to drop the plan because they did not want the health-coverage controversy to prevent a budget from being passed, but they plan to introduce separate legislation for the healthcare plan later.

A similar proposal by Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to give $23 million to the county health programs also faces Republican opposition in the Legislature.