Obama Looks to Health Care Reforms

The U.S. Senate has taken up a bill to expand an insurance program for children in working families. The House passed the bill January 14. The expansion will be funded by an increase in the tax on cigarettes. President Bush vetoed a similar bill twice. If the Senate passes it, President Barack Obama is expected to sign it. He also pledged January 12 to establish a national system to put medical records on computer. The Associated Press reported on both of these developments.