A weekly summary of important events on Capitol Hill Provided by Rep. Mike Peifer (R-139)
Remembering a Great Pennsylvania Leader
Lawmakers join all Pennsylvanians in mourning the loss of Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll who died Wednesday, Nov. 12, following a battle with neuroendocrine cancer. In 2002, she became the first woman ever elected lieutenant governor. Prior to that, she was twice elected state treasurer and was heavily involved in western Pennsylvania politics for most of her life. Republican Leader Sam Smith said Knoll’s presence will be missed in Harrisburg. “She was a courageous fighter who knew how to put her best foot forward always, regardless of the circumstances. Serving our Commonwealth with dedication and determination, she was always able to hold her head high.” Sen. Joseph Scarnati (R-Jefferson) is now the state’s lieutenant governor, marking the first time in Pennsylvania history that the governor and lieutenant governor are of different political parties.
GOP Continues Push for Continued Health Care Accessibility
With just one week remaining in the 2007-08 legislative session, House Republicans are again calling for action on legislation to extend the state’s MCare abatement program. The program is vital to keeping doctors practicing in Pennsylvania and ensuring continued patient access to quality care. On Wednesday, Rep. Curt Schroder (R-Chester) led a successful effort to remove House Bill 489 from the tabled bill calendar, but its future is unclear. House Democrats and the Rendell administration have refused to act on legislation to extend MCare without also adopting their costly, big-government insurance program. With a more than $560 million revenue shortfall in state revenue, House Republicans say a better alternative is to encourage more private investment in health insurance. Visit www.HealthCareForPAFamilies.com for more information.
Lawmakers Challenge Administration’s New ‘Guidelines’ for Teachers
Efforts by the Rendell administration to dictate specific course requirements for Pennsylvania teachers in training could have a chilling effect on efforts to improve the state’s public schools, according to Reps. Bill Adolph (R-Delaware) and Craig Dally (R-Northampton). The lawmakers say the guidelines will result in aspiring young teachers being forced to spend a fifth year in college to complete the course requirements. That drives up tuition costs and could reduce the number of teachers available to fill the state’s classrooms, which already suffer from a lack of math and science teachers. Also driving up costs for aspiring teachers is the estimated $3 million cost for colleges to change their curricula to meet the Rendell administration’s guidelines.
Lawmakers Question Alleged Benefits of Blues Insurance Merger
Members of the House Insurance Committee were largely unconvinced by arguments from Highmark and Independence Blue Cross officials that a proposed merger of the two insurance giants would not hinder competition in the state and would actually result in cost-savings for their clients. Lawmakers are concerned consumers will end up paying more, and health care providers are concerned about lower reimbursement rates that could encourage doctors to leave the state, meaning Pennsylvania families will have fewer options for their care. If approved by the state Insurance Department, the merged company plans to provide insurance to 80 percent of the state’s population.