Posted by Mark Koenig on Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Colby Itkowitz and John Micek of The Morning Call write:
President Barack Obama’s plan to have the federal government regulate health insurance rates could have profound implications for Pennsylvania, one of only two states that do not give their insurance commissioners the authority to regulate rates for small businesses.
Health insurance costs now are regulated at the state level. Pennsylvania and Hawaii are the only states that do not oversee health insurance prices charged to small businesses.
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Gov. Ed Rendell, a Democrat, tried unsuccessfully to have the state regulate rates charged to small businesses.
A health care bill containing such regulatory language passed the Democrat-majority state House in early 2009 but has not been acted on by the Republican-controlled state Senate.
Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, who serves on the House Insurance Committee, is one of the sponsors of the bill.
”We give [Ario] the authority to regulate car insurance rates, not health insurance rates,” Shapiro said.
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Posted by Mark Koenig on Friday, February 5, 2010
From The Earth Times:
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection-Office of Energy and Technology Development has awarded two grants to Abington Memorial Hospital in support of its efforts to “Think Green.”
Three million dollars was awarded to Abington Memorial Hospital for a new cogeneration system to replace the hospital’s 45-year-old heating system. This new system will save over $2 million a year in energy costs, and significantly reduce air contaminants and water usage. It will generate 38 million kilowatt hours on-site, roughly 64 percent of the hospital’s electricity needs, while producing steam as a byproduct.
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“As a non-profit, we do as much environmentally conscious work as we can with very little budgeted dollars,” says Meg McGoldrick, chief operating officer and member of the hospital’s “Green Team.” “These grants are a real shot in the arm for our green efforts.” McGoldrick said State Representative Josh Shapiro was a strong advocate for the hospital’s grant applications.
Shapiro says he is proud to have been able to help secure these grants to create 79 green jobs and reduce energy consumption and emissions in his district. “These grants will help boost our local economy and reduce the amount of air contaminants in our air and water sources, and decrease the hospital’s demand for electricity,” says Shapiro. “I commend Abington Memorial Hospital for their commitment to clean up our environment and energy efficiency.”
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Posted by Mark Koenig on Tuesday, February 2, 2010
From The Philadelphia Inquirer:
By approving a strong ban on all handheld cell-phone use for drivers in Pennsylvania, the state House last week took a major stride toward safeguarding motorists from death and injury in crashes caused by distracted driving.
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The focus in Harrisburg now turns to the Republican-controlled Senate, where House legislation sponsored by Rep. Josh Shapiro (D., Montgomery) should be adopted. Trouble is, there has been a puzzling lack of enthusiasm in the Senate for getting tough enough with distracted drivers.
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Posted by Mark Koenig on Monday, February 1, 2010
Oren M. Spiegler wrote to the editor of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
It is rare that one can praise the Pennsylvania General Assembly for a job well done, but today, we can. The overwhelming vote in the state House to approve a ban on the use of hand-held cell phones and texting while driving is a tribute to the determination of those who support commonsense safety measures to make state roads safer.
The bill now goes to the Senate, where there must be a similar push for reasonable and sensible people to prevail so that this legislation may be signed into law as soon as possible.
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When I say “for he’s a jolly good fellow” in reference to any state legislator, I am usually being facetious, but today, I extend that praise, particularly to state Rep. Josh Shapiro, who was a driving force behind this legislation. If the General Assembly always acted with the interest of the people in mind, as it did last week, our commonwealth would be on the road to good government and progress!
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