While legislators and the governor continue their budget maneuvers, a critical impact of this year’s budget is going unnoticed.

As passed to the governor’s desk, the 2008-09 budget proposal will result in 300,000 children being dropped from health coverage. This will increase the number of uninsured children in California by almost 40 percent. For years, many legislators and the governor himself have promised to make health coverage for all kids a top priority. This budget breaks that promise and reverses a decade of progress in covering California’s kids. While these Capitol budget games make for good drama, it is important to highlight some of the real life stories and the negative impacts this budget will have on Californians. Let’s start with the story of these 300,000 children.