As Congress works on renewing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor and state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink proposed a plan today that will expand health insurance coverage to more of Florida’s and the nation’s children. The plan was outlined in a letter to President-Elect Obama. Read more »

Monday morning, Burke stood beside Castor as the representative spoke about her plans to address the backlog. Burke, who said she suffers from diabetic neuropathy and other ailments, first applied for disability benefits in 2000. After her application was denied twice, she hired a lawyer to help her slog through the quagmire. In the meantime, though, she had to move in with her mother, who, though past retirement, continued to work to help the family survive, said Burke, 40. Read more »

Castor is championing issues she has long favored - health care, the physician's shortage, education - and she's working with Republicans to get things done. Read more »