How did Ken Paxton vote on health care and CHIP?
- Wrote a bill opposing the Affordable Care Act’s coverage requirement
- Voted against letting families buy CHIP coverage for their children
- Voted against restoring 12-month CHIP health coverage for children
- Voted for the 2003 law that let the state cut children’s CHIP coverage from 12 months to 6 and add an asset test
1 Voted yea2 Voted nay1 Authored or sponsored
The votes
| Session | Bill | Measure | Position | Outcome | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82nd (2011) | HB 97 | Wrote a bill opposing the Affordable Care Act’s coverage requirement HB 97: “Health Freedom Act” opposing a health-insurance mandate. Would have declared that the power to require people to carry health insurance is reserved to the people and the states. | Died in committee. | Introduced text, 82(R) HB 97 | |
| 81st (2009) | HB 2962 | Voted against letting families buy CHIP coverage for their children HB 2962: CHIP eligibility changes and a CHIP “buy-in” option. Would have let families earning 300% to 400% of the federal poverty level buy CHIP coverage for their children. | Nay | Passed House 87–55; died in the Senate. | House Journal, 81st Leg., May 15, 2009, p. 3734, Record 881 |
| 80th (2007) | HB 109 | Voted against restoring 12-month CHIP health coverage for children HB 109: Restoring 12-month CHIP eligibility and outreach. Restored continuous CHIP eligibility of up to 12 months, set a minimum $10,000 asset allowance where an asset test applies, and required an outreach campaign and hotline. | Nay | Passed House 128–17; he also voted against the final version, adopted 134–14. Became law. | House Journal, 80th Leg., April 4, 2007, p. 1568, Record 299 |
| 78th (2003) | HB 2292 | Voted for the 2003 law that let the state cut children’s CHIP coverage from 12 months to 6 and add an asset test HB 2292: Reorganization of health and human services agencies, including CHIP eligibility changes. Consolidated state health and human services agencies. Allowed CHIP’s continuous-eligibility period to drop from 12 months to 6 months until Sept. 1, 2005, and allowed an asset test for families above 150% of the federal poverty level. | Yea | Passed; conference report adopted 87–58. | House Journal, 78th Leg., June 1, 2003, pp. 6514–15, Record 948 |
What these measures did
- Wrote a bill opposing the Affordable Care Act’s coverage requirementWould have declared that the power to require people to carry health insurance is reserved to the people and the states.He authored it. Died in committee.
- Voted against letting families buy CHIP coverage for their childrenWould have let families earning 300% to 400% of the federal poverty level buy CHIP coverage for their children.He voted against it. Passed House 87–55; died in the Senate.
- Voted against restoring 12-month CHIP health coverage for childrenRestored continuous CHIP eligibility of up to 12 months, set a minimum $10,000 asset allowance where an asset test applies, and required an outreach campaign and hotline.He voted against it. Passed House 128–17; he also voted against the final version, adopted 134–14. Became law.
- Voted for the 2003 law that let the state cut children’s CHIP coverage from 12 months to 6 and add an asset testConsolidated state health and human services agencies. Allowed CHIP’s continuous-eligibility period to drop from 12 months to 6 months until Sept. 1, 2005, and allowed an asset test for families above 150% of the federal poverty level.He voted for it. Passed; conference report adopted 87–58.