Vt. health care subsidy increases may have life

MONTPELIER (AP) - Vermont lawmakers say the House Health Care Committee's defeat of legislation on health insurance subsidies may not mean death for the measure.

The House Health Care Committee on Friday killed - on a 5-5 tie vote - a bill to raise a new tax on sugary soft drinks and use the money to pay for public health education and subsidies designed to smooth the transition to a health care overhaul.

But supporters of the sugar-sweetened beverage tax say it's an important measure to fight obesity - and that they'll continue fighting for it in other legislative committees.

And the Shumlin administration's proposal on health insurance subsidies still is expected to get a hearing in the House Appropriations Committee.