October 23rd, 2008

Earlier this week, current Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Chester) debated his democratic opponent John Linder for the 9th district Pennsylvania Senate seat race.

The two had definite disagreements on the issues of education and healthcare.  As majority leader, Pileggi had firmly opposed Rendell’s PA ABC plan that made it through the House and remained stalled in the Senate. 

The Delaware County Daily Times reported that there are currently 767,000 Pennsylvanians lacking health insurance, approximately 24,000 of whom live in Delaware County, according to the state Department of Health.

Pileggi pointed out that he opposed Rendell’s proposal because it is impossible to sustain funding for such a massive state program right now, especially with the state of the current economy.  He stated that after five years the funding would run out and the state would need $250 million in new taxes.  Pileggi noted his support for extending the MCARE fund, which helps doctors pay for expensive malpractice insurance.  That measure did not pass because the governor lumped it together with his health care package.

His opponent Linder disagreed, saying “Some kind of health care incentive from the state not only helps the people here, it can help bring people here.”  He pointed out that having some form of health insurance would prompt people to seek care before they are forced to go to the emergency room, which advocates say will help rive down health care costs for everyone in the long-run.