Gov. John Hickenlooper is doing the right thing in trying to protect 75,000 Colorado children and 800 pregnant women from losing their health insurance coverage on Jan. 31. His emergency ask of the state’s budget writers to spend $9.6 million to protect this vulnerable population shows real leadership that we hope lawmakers in Washington heed.

While a perpetual back-filling of what should be the federal government’s obligation likely isn’t sustainable, the emergency is real. For some, the drop in health insurance coverage could come mid-hospital stay or with a fast-approaching due date and no alternative to help cover the costs of care.

We’ve been dismayed and infuriated, as have parents across the nation, that Congress hasn’t been able to continue funding the Children’s Health Insurance Program despite broad bipartisan agreement that it should be done, and months ago.

Read more at The Denver Post.