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 Governor's health insurance program meant many things for adults in Pennsylvania. A few of these points were the expansion of coverage to more than 118,000, raising funding for health clinics, as well as provisions for more coverage for prescriptions and mental health care.
The main concern that the Senate Republicans had was the cost of the new legislation, which was set to be over $2 billion within five years. This cost would have been absorbed by the state government. Republican State Senator,Domini Pileggi, said, "[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."
In retaliation, Governor Rendell suggested that his Republican peers did not deliver on compromises that were made. Rendell was cited as saying, "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 vowed to push for health insurance expansion every year until his term ends in 2011, reported the Associated Press and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Governor's health insurance program meant many things for adults in Pennsylvania. A few of these points were the expansion of coverage to more than 118,000, raising funding for health clinics, as well as provisions for more coverage for prescriptions and mental health care.
The main concern that the Senate Republicans had was the cost of the new legislation, which was set to be over $2 billion within five years. This cost would have been absorbed by the state government. Republican State Senator,Domini Pileggi, said, "[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."
In retaliation, Governor Rendell suggested that his Republican peers did not deliver on compromises that were made. Rendell was cited as saying, "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 vowed to push for health insurance expansion every year until his term ends in 2011, reported the Associated Press and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
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