Gov. wants more session days to reach compromise on healthcare & energy
Gov. Rendell said yesterday that both parties are coming closer to a compromise on healthcare policy, which will result in insurance for hundreds and thousands of currently uncovered Pennsylvanians. More session days are needed to come to a final deal, he says.
Standard-Speaker: Choose public good over politics and reauthorize PHC4
Today, the Standard Speaker editorialized that the Legislature’s political tug-of-war over the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) needs to end promptly in reauthorization this fall — in the name of public good and patient safety.
House Majority Policy Committee hears testimony on plan to cover uninsured
Yesterday, the House Majority Policy Committee was in Dubois for the first in a series of hearings on how to best cover Pennsylvania’s uninsured residents, reports the Bradford Era.
Patriot-News: PHC4 suffers from use as political football during negotiations
The Patriot-News reported yesterday that although Gov. Rendell correctly reauthorized the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) until November, the council should never have been in this precarious position in the first place.
Leaders privately wrangle over budget, rank-and-file just try to stay busy
The last week or so rank-and-file lawmakers have been discussing everything except the state’s budget, while legislative leaders have discussions behind closed doors . Although this may seem odd when the budget is due in four days, this has been the way it’s been done in Harrisburg for many years, reports the Morning Call.
Senate GOP wants to cut spending due to slow economy
Yesterday the Senate Republicans advanced their budget bill, cutting the governor’s proposed plan by 400 million. They say that government spending must be cut due to the sluggish economy that has slowed revenue collections, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Senate Insurance Committee hearing on PA ABC bill tomorrow 1:00 PM
Tomorrow, Wed. June 18th, the Senate’s Banking and Insurance Committee will hold a public hearing on the SB 1137 (the PA ABC plan, backed by House D’s and Gov. Rendell) for the first time. The hearing is scheduled for Room 8E-A, East Wing at 1:00 PM and is expected to be two hours long.
Budget Update: June 17th
With 14 days until deadline, Gov. Rendell and Legislative leaders planned to meet again today to negotiate a budget.
In the House: Members have filed 130 amendments to the General Appropriations Bill, which are set to be debated on the week of June 23rd. Yesterday, the House voted 100-99 to defeat a proposal which would have allowed a vote on Sen. Piccola’s bill to prevent state employee furloughs.
Mark Stier: GOP health-care plan inadaquate
Mark Stier, health care campaign manager for the Service Employees International Union’s Pennsylvania State Council, explains in his As I see it, Patriot-News column today why the Republicans HealthNET PA plan won’t be adaquate to help the uninsured — if it even works at all.
Compromise Needed on Health-Care Issues
Health-care improvements seem unlikely as state legislators continue to disagree on solutions. John Baer used his Philadelphia Daily News column today to call for a compromise.