March 16th, 2009

Last week, budget contention started to heat up as Gov. Rendell announced that he’s not happy with 3 of the 4 Legislative caucuses who have not responded to his October call to cut budget 4.25 % within their caucuses.  Rendell said that in the 5 months since this request he has only heard back from the House Democrats.

But, this time it wasn’t just the Republians answering back.  Senate Democratic Leader Bob Mellow told the Philadelphia Inquirer that Rendell is just engaging in “political pandering”, since his caucus has already made the requested cuts through salary freezes and other measures.  Leadership in both Republican caucuses say they have also cut their budget to the bone.

Health-related bills of interest that had some movement this week include:

SB 442, which will establish mini-COBRA for employees of businesses with 2-19 employees, was passed out of committee, received first consideration in the Senate, and has been set on the calendar for today, March 16.

SB 443 (which will  deny insurance payment for preventable adverse events) and SB 189 (allowing children, under certain conditions, to stay on their parents insurance policy until age 30) also passed out of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, and is on the Senate calendar for today.

There will be a public hearing on SB 335, which would provide the Keystone Care Prescription Program, this morning in the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee.

Finally, the House Aging and Older Services Committee will hold a public meeting on HB 245 and HB 56 , both sponsored by Rep. Mundy, on March 19.