Illinois County Judge Issues Temporary Injunction On Gov. Blagojevich's FamilyCare Expansion

Cook County, Ill., Judge James Epstein on Tuesday issued a temporary injunction to block Gov. Rod Blagojevich's (D) efforts to expand the state's FamilyCare program, the Chicago Tribune reports. Epstein ruled that Blagojevich could proceed on one part of his expansion proposal that would provide uninsured women in the state with breast and cervical cancer screenings. In his written ruling, Epstein noted that state lawmakers had allocated $6 million toward the screening program without setting income restrictions, which gives the governor legal authority to further expand the program.

Larry Blust, a lawyer representing the Blagojevich administration, said, "We are clearly unhappy that he ruled on this basis," adding that the administration is considering its options in the case. However, Blagojevich said he is "delighted" with the judge's ruling on the cancer screening program because it "makes Illinois the only state in America where every woman who is uninsured can now have access to routine mammograms and Pap smears that will save their lives" (Mendell, Chicago Tribune, 4/16).


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