Weekly Budget Blitz: 7/20 -7/24

MON: Senate takes carving knife to House budget;

TUES: House rejects Senate amended budget;

WED: informal talks begin between all sides;

NEXT MON: bi-cameral conference committee will be chosen and will start negotiating

Budget Weekly Wrap-up: 7/6 -> 7/10

It was announced that the Governor’s proposed personal income tax increase, which would be used to balance the budget, is dead. Find out what both sides may do now…

Bills on the move: 6/15 -> 6/26

A bill which would create a provision for Affordable Small Group Health Care Coverage was defeated in the House this week, but upon a reconsideration motion has been set back on the calendar for next week.

Bills on the move: 5/11 -> 5/15

The big news was that the House passed a bill (SB 189) to allow people 29 and under to stay on their parents health insurance under certain conditions. Since it already passed the Senate in March, Governor Rendell has announced he will sign it when it gets to his desk.

Weekly Wrap-up 5/4 -> 5/8

Last week, the Senate GOP unveiled their budget plan, bringing anger from special interest groups, the governor and the House Democrats.

Bills on the Move: 5/4 -> 5/8

While most of the week’s focus was on the Senate Republican’s budget proposal, bills dealing with mini-COBRA, payment for serious adverse events, and reauthorization of the Pennsylvania Healthcare Cost Containment Council had some movement this week.

On tap for this week in the Capitol

This week there will be an informational Senate hearing on the Consumer Workforce Council and a House Health and Human Services Committee hearing on the carve-out or “Smart Pharmacy”. See below for more details.

Bills on the move: 4/20 -> 4/24

A mini-COBRA bill and legislation that would require long-term care facilities to coordinate with licensing agencies when consumers relocate both passed through the House this week, while nothin’ healthcare related was moving in the Senate.

Bills on the Move: 3/30 -> 4/3

The mini-COBRA bill passed unanimously in the Senate, while four bills moved out of the House, including a bill created to lower the rate of healthcare-acquired infections, and a reauthorization of PHC4. Read on to see what other bills may have some legs in the House and Senate.

What’s happenin’ this week in the Capitol

Read on to see what bills will be debated and voted on in committee hearings and meetings this week and what is up for consideration on the House and Senate Floor.