Governors urge CHIP funding as Wolf trades tweets with Jimmy Kimmel

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Twelve governors of both parties, including Pennsylvania’s Gov. Tom Wolf, are urging Congress to reauthorize funding for a popular children’s health insurance programas soon as possible.

The recommendation involving the Children’s Health Insurance Program — or CHIP, which since September has been left unfunded and stuck in a political stalemate — came in a letter to congressional leaders Tuesday.

And Mr. Wolf tweeted thanks to late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel, who has been outspoken in support of CHIP funding and brought his infant son, Billy, on his “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” show Monday to make an emotional plea for healthcare funding.

“Thank you @jimmykimmel for sounding the alarm on #CHIP reauthorization,” Mr. Wolf tweeted, adding that “more than 180,000 PA kids depend on this program to be able to see a doctor when they are sick, and no family deserves to suffer at the hands of Congress’ inaction.”

Mr. Kimmel replied: “thank YOU Governor.”

As for the governors, Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Democratic Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper led the letter-writing effort.

Besides Mr. Wolf, it was joined by the governors of Alaska, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Vermont and Virginia.