Board OKs kids' insurance funds
06/15/00
Just one day after the San Jose City Council rejected using its tobacco settlement money for a children's health care initiative, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors upheld a pledge to set aside $3 million of its tobacco money and explore moving f
``We have to take that leadership position,'' Supervisor Blanca Alvarado said. ``That will send a very, very strong message that we're serious about following through on a proposal that was initiated by the community.''
The plan, which would be the first in the nation to attempt to insure all children in an area, has drawn widespread attention.
At a budget hearing Wednesday night, dozens of people showed up in support of the plan and lined up to speak for it. But nearly all of them declined to speak when the supervisors advised the crowd ahead of time that it would take very compelling testimony against the plan to get them to vote it down.
Cigarettes
