Gov. Charlie Crist should make insurance coverage for children a priority this spring when state lawmakers gather in Tallahassee. The Legislature also should increase funding for Florida KidCare and make it easier for working families to hear about the program and enroll in it.

Moreover, Crist should join Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink in supporting the creation of a Children's Cabinet of key government players who can focus attention on child welfare.

The value of KidCare is obvious. Healthier children do better in school. They take fewer trips to the emergency room and develop fewer serious illnesses. In the long run, keeping children healthy will cost the state less money.

To be fair, lawmakers are right to be cautious about growing the program too much and putting the state on the hook should the federal funding formula change. Congress this year is set to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which today contributes 71 cents for every 29 cents Florida invests in children's health care.

But Florida doesn't spend enough to earn the full federal match, so Washington sends the money to states more strongly committed to giving low-income children their best shot at a healthy life. Since 1998, Florida has lost out on $140 million in federal money.

To receive the full match, health care officials estimate that Florida will have to spend $87 million more than the $104 million budgeted last session.

Moreover, spending is only part of the puzzle because federal funding also depends on enrollment, and the program would need 150,000 more children almost overnight to be eligible for the full $450 million match available this year.

Still, with as many as 750,000 uninsured children in Florida, the state has a moral obligation to enroll as many as possible.

With that goal in mind, lawmakers should fortify KidCare, spend the money needed to advertise the program and streamline the enrollment process for parents who try to enroll their children.

Florida must and can do better by its kids.