PCPA’s
lobby day is June 6. If you have not already done so, please register your
organization with PCPA (using
the attached form). Registering today is still acceptable, but participants
will be directed to handouts available on the registration tables rather than
having specific materials prepared for them.
Legislative Speakers
The legislative press conference will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. –
members should begin to gather in the Main Rotunda at 12:45 p.m. PCPA is pleased
that several legislators are confirmed to speak including Sen. Jake
Corman (R-Centre/Juniata/Mifflin/Perry/Union), Sen. Patricia
H. Vance (R-Cumberland), Rep. Katie True (R-Lancaster)
and Rep. Kathy Manderino (D-Philadelphia). Sen. Jay Costa,
Jr. has been confirmed; however, at the time of this Legislative Alert, it
appears the Senate Democrats will begin an off-site retreat at 12:00 p.m.
on June 6 (members should also keep this in mind relative to appointments)
which would preclude his participation.
Discussion
Topics
Members are encouraged to visit the Legislative Affairs section (as well as
the Legislative Affairs Archives area) to re-familiarize themselves with PCPA’s
top legislative priorities. A synopsis of the topics slated for lobby day
discussion follows:
- Amendments calling for a 4% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for mental health/mental retardation/drug and alcohol (MH/MR/D&A) were included in the current budget bill (House Bill 2499), which is now in the Senate for consideration. It has been stated that hospitals, nursing homes, and managed care organizations are seeking an increase larger than the 4% (COLA) proposed by the administration. Should the legislature consider a higher increase, MH/MR/D&A is seeking that same increase for its services. Budgeting the same percentage increase for all sectors of the public health system (of which MH/MR/D&A is an integral part) is the only way to achieve true equity.
- Strong consideration must be given to measures such as House Bill 1813/Senate Bill 1006 (inflationary index legislation) and House Bill 1649/Senate Bill 727 (dedicated alcohol tax legislation) which would help achieve long-term funding solutions for the MH/MR/D&A system.
- Recently, there has been discussion about Pennsylvania enacting some form of spending caps/taxpayer bill of rights (TABOR). PCPA does not currently have a position for/against the proposed TABOR bills. However, PCPA believes that if TABOR legislation is enacted in Pennsylvania it is paramount that an amendment exempting MH/MR/D&A services be included.
Coming
on Friday…
Tomorrow’s Legislative Alert will be for member contact persons
and registered lobby day team leaders. It will include attachments to the
four major sets of talking points for the topics listed above.
