September 23rd, 2008

Several newspapers are making it clear what they think should be the Legislature’s top priority for the short fall session: Healthcare.

The Philadelphia Daily News, which calls for the approval of the Democrats’ PA ABC plan, is perfectly blunt when they speculate on which issues the Legislature will choose to act on: small, unpressing issues such as massage therapy regulations; or healthcare:

This hardly seems a choice at all, but judging from the Legislature’s past actions, it’s just as likely that it’ll tackle the nonessential stuff and let the clock run out on health care. Why?

Why give Gov. Rendell a political victory – health reform is one of his issues – when the legislators can stay mired in petty politics and ignore the crisis of their constituents? (Besides, what do they know about gaps in health-care coverage; they have a gold-plated plan that many of them can count on for life.)

Meanwhile, over at the Philadelphia Inquirer, the editors are in agreement with their fellow Philadelphia paper, saying “…this is no time for Harrisburg legislators to sit by while nearly 770,000 people in the state continue to go without health insurance. State lawmakers just back in session need to break their monthslong stalemate over expanding health care for the uninsured.” 

They too are in favor of PA ABC’s fast-acting plan, and say its 10-cent addition to the cigarette tax and levy on chewing tobacco and cigars would have no financial impact on many Pennsylvanians, and perhaps promote healthier lifestyles onto those who it would effect.  The Senate Republicans, they say, want a “go-slow approach” which falls ”far short of finding a means to provide the uninsured with access to a family doctor and prescription medicine.”

Uniontown’s Herald-Standard also reprinted the Inquirer’s opinion.

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Which healthcare plan do YOU favor, readers?  Let us know your comments!