WASHINGTON, July 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate Finance Committee has voted to expand health benefits for the children of the working poor by increasing tobacco taxes.
Thursday's 17-4 vote demonstrated the overwhelming popularity of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which gives about 6 million kids access to healthcare their parents couldn't otherwise afford, the Los Angeles Times said Friday.
Six of the 10 Republicans on the panel joined all 11 Democrats in backing the plan, the newspaper said.
The program costs the federal government about $5 billion a year, with states kicking in additional money.
The new Senate plan would add about $35 billion in federal money over five years and would be enough to cover an additional 3.3 million -- out of as many as 9 million -- uninsured children.
However, President Bush isn't keen about spending that much money, instead proposing the government invest $5 billion in the program over five years.
The Senate plan calls for supplementary funding to be raised by increasing the tax on cigarettes from 39 cents to $1 a pack.
Taxes on cigars would vary, but could more than double to as much as $10 for the really pricey smokes.
