Our Washington State Governor, Chris Gregoire is a huge supporter of health care coverage for all children.  Under her leadership, Apple Health for Kids was created.  For the past couple of years, funding for Apple Health for Kids has been targeted to close our budget gap by reducing the benefit eligiblity from 300% of federal poverty level to 150% of federal poverty which would leave thousands of children of the "working poor" without coverage.  These potential cuts were needed in order to close our ever growing state budget deficit.  United Way of Pierce County has advocated for the past three years that eligibility for Apple Health remain at 300%.  We have been successful so far in keeping it at 300% in spite of severe budget woes.  This legislative session, it has been proposed that Apple Health not be used to cover undocumented children.  We estimate that would cut off 27,000 children.  Fortunately, our state was one of the ones who got a $18million bonus announced a couple of weeks ago by Secretary Sebilius.  This should enable that coverage continues at the current 300% of federal poverty and includes undocumented children (requires some payment by parents on a sliding scale for any family over 100% of federal poverty).  Our United Way looks forward to continuing our advocacy as the 2011 - 2013 budget is created.  Our position is to not reduce coverage for children in families below 300% level and to continue to cover undocumented children.  Our legislative budget should be approved by the end of April 2011.