Gerber fights for jobs in Southeastern Pennsylvania
Pa. lawmakers give gov. more power in welfare law
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
Posted: 07/06/2011 07:47:25 PM EDT
HARRISBURG, Pa.—The Pennsylvania Legislature on Thursday sent Republican Gov. Tom Corbett a bill that gives his administration broad new powers in an effort to squeeze about $400 million in savings from the Department of Public Welfare.
The House voted 130-66 to approve changes to the Public Welfare Code, one of the final pieces of the 2011-12 budget.
Democrats called the bill a desertion of lawmakers' responsibility to provide oversight on the executive branch, and described the cuts that will result as unduly harsh.
"I do not support balancing our budget on the backs of the most vulnerable in Pennsylvania, as this budget will do," said Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery.
Republicans said the bill, which could lead to increases in co-pays, elimination of eligibility and the curtailment of services, will help Corbett find significant savings in the roughly $10.5 billion agency. They called the changes commonsense reforms that will improve communities and families.
"I do understand the concerns raised," said Rep. Matt Baker, R-Bradford. "However, this is for one year, and there is a 30-day public comment period for any changes."
Rep. Mauree Gingrich, R-Lebanon, said the measure was designed to provide more accountability within the welfare system.
"It's out of control," she said. "It is a very important program, a critical department to both Republicans and Democrats. It doesn't have a side of the aisle. We've got to close the existing loopholes and we've got to restore integrity."
For years, Republicans in the General Assembly have criticized the department for poor management and fraudulent payments, but Democrats expressed skepticism that such problems are widespread, or that the legislation will do much to address them.
"This bill doesn't outline how you're going after that waste, fraud and abuse," said Rep. Mike Gerber, D-Montgomery. "You're sticking it to the hospitals, the hospitals that produce doctors, the hospitals that care for our families, the hospitals that provide jobs for thousands and thousands of people in southeastern Pennsylvania."
Rep. Joe Markosek, D-Allegheny, called the bill one of the worst pieces of legislation he has seen in three decades in the chamber and told members it amounted to turning over their powers to the executive branch.
"We are now just giving them to an unelected secretary who isn't even from Pennsylvania to make some of the most important decisions that many Pennsylvanians and their families will face, folks that are having problems, folks that need our help, folks that have gone beyond their means, folks that are looking for a helping hand," he said.
Corbett's secretary of public welfare, Gary Alexander, was living in Rhode Island before taking the job. The bill passed the Senate earlier in the day, 35-15, with five Democrats voting with every Republican to send it to the House.