Children's advocates across Texas are urging Gov. Rick Perry to put expansion of the Children's Health Insurance Program on the call for the planned special legislative session.

We urge the governor to follow their advice.

Perry's desire to keep government small and avoid Washington mandates is duly noted, but in this case, additional government spending will help the state dramatically and is the prudent path.

As of the beginning of the year, 20 percent of Texas children lacked insurance, and CHIP advocates note that 90 percent of those children have at least one working parent. They are caught in limbo because they lack insurance but don't qualify for Medicaid.

Lawmakers almost passed a plan that allowed needy families to buy into CHIP coverage, but it died in the regular session.

As noted in this space earlier this month, these children don't have regular doctors that can help them maintain wellness.

Instead, they wind up in expensive emergency rooms when they are seriously ill.

The expansion plan that died in the regular session would have cost the state $38 million, but Texas would have gained $97 million in federal matching funds.

Expanding CHIP is not only good for children, the move would also reduce the public spending that is now shoved to county hospital districts and financed with property taxes.

The best fiscal move is to fund the expansion and allow poor children to receive treatment before they need an emergency room. This would be an investment in the future as well as save money today.

Supporting the CHIP expansion is good politics in addition to being the right thing to do.