Connecticut Democrats on Monday introduced legislation to create a trust fund that would help pay for future universal health care in the state, the Hartford Courant reports. Under the bill, a trust fund would be established using $125 million from an anticipated state budget surplus of $700 million to $800 million; $125 million from the fiscal year 2007-2008 operating budget; and another $125 million from the FY 2008-2009 operating budget. According to the proposal, if the state treasurer were to invest $250 million over the next two years at existing rates of return, the state would realize a gain of $51.95 million. If the Legislature were to invest the full $375 million, the state would realize a gain of $78 million, the lawmakers said. House Speaker James Amann (D) on Monday said that providing universal health care could cost the state between $50 million and $400 million annually, depending on program specifics. In addition, House Democrats said that once universal health care is adopted in Connecticut, it could take one to two years before a program is funded and in place. State Rep. Jason Bartlett (D), who introduced the bill with the support of 17 other state lawmakers, said, "Beginning to invest money into a fund so that we can one day establish a universal health care system in our state makes fiscal sense. When you have a child, you do not wait until they enter college to begin saving for their higher education." Amann said, "The Massachusetts plan, the Maine plan and the California plan ... the ideas that are coming out are very encouraging. But the biggest problem is how do we afford it? And more important than affordability is sustainability" (Poitras, Hartford Courant, 1/23).

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