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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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House
Democratic Leadership |
  
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Why is Senate stalling on health care?
Effort to eliminate property taxes dies due to Senate inaction
HARRISBURG, Sept. 16 – House Democratic leaders today questioned the Senate’s commitment to two issues that are top priorities for all Pennsylvanians: affordable health care and property taxes.
"With a slim one-seat majority, House Democrats successfully pushed a strong agenda for working families including expanding affordable health care, beginning to reduce our state’s reliance on foreign oil and passing a constitutional amendment to eliminate property taxes. After months of inaction on the part of our Senate Republican counterparts, we’re left to wonder: when will they show true leadership by taking votes on the issues that matter to Joe and Jane Taxpayer?" asked House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese.
On Monday, while the Senate was not in session, the House returned to Harrisburg and undertook several hours of debate on the issue of eliminating the state’s distinction of being the "puppy mill capital of the country."
In March, the House passed legislation (S.B. 1137) known as Pennsylvania ABC. It would expand health care to at least 270,000 working adults, continue the state’s commitment to helping doctors pay their medical malpractice premiums for 10 years and help small business employers who already offer their employees health care. During the past two months, Majority Policy Chairman Todd Eachus said his Policy Committee has traveled throughout the Commonwealth listening to a variety of health-care horror stories from men and women who are working but who cannot afford today’s high insurance rates.
"It’s been 184 days since the House sent to the Senate the Pennsylvania ABC legislation and since that time 368 Pennsylvanians have died due to a lack of health insurance, according to the Institute of Medicine," said Eachus. "How much longer must more than a quarter million hardworking, uninsured Pennsylvania adults wait for Senate Republican leaders to recognize the importance of affordable health care?"
Eachus said several other health-care proposals passed by the House also continue to be stalled by the Senate, including:
· House Bill 834 – eliminating mandatory overtime for nurses;
· House Bill 1556 – extending the age of health coverage to 30;
· House Bill 1824 – community-based, health-care provider assistance;
· House Bill 2005 – small group rating reform;
· House Bill 2625 – community access to care.
House Majority Whip Keith McCall said another priority for most Pennsylvania taxpayers is skyrocketing property taxes.
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"In mid-January, the House unanimously passed a proposed amendment to the state constitution to eventually eliminate property taxes by allowing for a 100 percent homestead exemption. But rather than follow our lead and take the first step toward reducing the tax burden on homeowners, the Senate decided to let the issue die due to inaction. We now have to start all over again next year and the elimination of property taxes is at least three years away," McCall said.
Finally, the leaders said some bills being touted by Senate Republicans will be considered in the House. However, already this session, the House Democratic Caucus has demonstrated its commitment to transparency and accountability in government, including significantly reforming the operations of the House of Representatives. The Democratic leaders said they would match their solid record of reform this session up against the record of any other caucus.
"Talking about reform is sexy, but it doesn’t help people. We have families in Pennsylvania who can’t pay for heat and who can’t earn a living wage. We have families who can’t afford health care. These are the issues that people care about and these are the issues that Senate Republicans need to address," said House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans. "Real reform is working to improve the lives of all Pennsylvanians. It’s rhetoric versus record."
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