Pennsylvania Governor, Ed Rendell, promised uninsured residents for months that he would import expanded health insurance coverage to them. After many months of promising this, the plan was killed in the state Senate. It comes as no surprise that the vote that killed the plan was partisan. The Republicans not supporting the plan would bring an end to the Democratic governor's bill.
The Pennsylvania health insurance program would have been expanded coverage to more than 118,000 adults living in Pennsylvania, increased funding for health clinics, and provided more insurance coverage for prescription drugs and mental health care.
In total, the new legislation would have cost the state government over $2 billion in five years, which was a primary concern for the Senate Republicans. "[I]t would be irresponsible for us to announce a new program when the state is now facing a 2-to-3 billion-dollar deficit in this year alone," said state Senator Dominic Pileggi, a Senate Republican leader.
Governor Rendell shot back at his republican colleagues with saying that they did not make good on compromises that were agreed upon. The Governor said, "We bent many times to reduce the number of people (covered) to meet their concerns. This was mean-spirited conduct by people who did not want to see action taken on what is the most fundamental challenge for most people."
The governor promises to push for health insurance expansion each year through the end of his term in 2011, as reported the Associate Press and Philadelphia Inquirer. - 15224
The Pennsylvania health insurance program would have been expanded coverage to more than 118,000 adults living in Pennsylvania, increased funding for health clinics, and provided more insurance coverage for prescription drugs and mental health care.
In total, the new legislation would have cost the state government over $2 billion in five years, which was a primary concern for the Senate Republicans. "[I]t would be irresponsible for us to announce a new program when the state is now facing a 2-to-3 billion-dollar deficit in this year alone," said state Senator Dominic Pileggi, a Senate Republican leader.
Governor Rendell shot back at his republican colleagues with saying that they did not make good on compromises that were agreed upon. The Governor said, "We bent many times to reduce the number of people (covered) to meet their concerns. This was mean-spirited conduct by people who did not want to see action taken on what is the most fundamental challenge for most people."
The governor promises to push for health insurance expansion each year through the end of his term in 2011, as reported the Associate Press and Philadelphia Inquirer. - 15224
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