FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2008
CONTACT: Erik Arneson
earneson@pasen.gov
717-787-4712
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Senate Republicans Urge House to Consider One-Year Extension to MCare Abatement Program

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25), Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9), and Senate Banking and Insurance Committee Chairman Don White (R-41) today called on House leaders to consider legislation which would extend Pennsylvania's MCare abatement program for one year. 

"The Senate passed House Bill 489, which was amended to include the one-year MCare abatement extension, with a unanimous vote in December," said Sen. Scarnati. "It has been sitting in the House Rules Committee since January 14. But if the House takes action on Monday, the bill can go right to the governor's desk for his signature." 

Sen. Pileggi said the MCare abatement extension should not be tied to consideration of any other legislation. "The one-year MCare abatement extension should be considered on its own merits," he said. "The broader debate on health care issues can continue, but the physicians, hospitals and nursing homes of Pennsylvania should not be caught up in a political quagmire not of their making."  

Sen. White emphasized that Senate Bill 1137, which the House passed just two weeks ago, would create a massive unfunded liability – projected to cost more than $1 billion – for Pennsylvania. "The House plan for government-subsidized insurance does not contain sufficient revenue to pay for the program," he said. "It would be legislative malpractice to consider this bill in its current form. No public hearings were held before the House passed it, and the people of Pennsylvania deserve to have such an important, complex and costly issue fully vetted so that all sides can be heard from." 
 

CONTACTS:

Tim Nyquist (Sen. Scarnati)
(717) 787-7084
Joe Pittman (Sen. D. White)
(717) 787-8724