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Alabama faces battle at the ballot box; groups look to federal laws for protection; Israeli Cabinet votes to shut down Al Jazeera in the country; Florida among top states for children losing health coverage post-COVID; despite the increase, SD teacher salary one of the lowest in the country.

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Civil rights groups criticize police actions against student protesters, Republicans accuse Democrats of "buying votes" through student debt relief, and anti-abortion groups plan legal challenges to a Florida ballot referendum.

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Bidding begins soon for Wyoming's elk antlers, Southeastern states gained population in the past year, small rural energy projects are losing out to bigger proposals, and a rural arts cooperative is filling the gap for schools in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Report: Montana is “Fair to Middlin’” for Kids

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Wednesday, February 27, 2008   

Helena, MT – Congress is getting scored on the way it deals with the next generation, and Montana's delegation ranks well into the upper half among the 50 states when it comes to taking care of kids.

A report released today by the Children's Defense Fund Action Council scores Congressional delegations on how they voted on children's issues, such as toy safety and education.

Montana's delegation is ranked 19th, and Congress, overall, scored better this year than in previous years, increasing family income with a minimum wage hike, improving access to Head Start, and boosting student loan programs for college.

Mary Caferro with Working for Equality and Economic Liberation in Helena says however, that health care is the biggest issue still looming over Congress. She says there are almost 40 thousand kids in Montana without health insurance coverage – and keeping them healthy doesn't take a big investment.

"Make sure that they are going in to see the doctor when the care does the most good and when it's cheapest – that is, primary and preventive care."

Hawaii scored best in the report. Critics say the report doesn’t consider the complexity of the issues behind the votes, such as how they will affect taxpayers.

Ed Shelleby with the CDF Action Council says the U.S. has the resources to focus on what's best for its children.

"This is the richest nation in the world, and there are 9.4 million children without health coverage, 13 million live in poverty, 5.5 million children live in extreme poverty."

The full report is at www.cdfactioncouncil.org



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