An idea for reducing Illinois' health care costs is off the table for now. An Illinois Senate subcommittee rejected last week Sen. Carole Pankau's (R-Itasca) plan to bar undocumented immigrant children from accessing the state's All Kids health care program. Pankau's proposal arrived as the governor and a legislative working group scramble to reduce the state's share of Medicaid costs. According to the Daily Herald, State Sen. Antonio Munoz (D-Chicago), the committee chairman, told Pankau, "I know what you're trying to do, but we have negotiations going on."

All Kids provides comprehensive health care to any Illinois child, though there are family income limits if the child has received health insurance in the last 12 months. Illinois has made clear that immigration status does not disqualify someone.