Bill Text: PA HR273 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing the Congress of the United States to refrain from imposing unfunded mandates on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and its citizens.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 32-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-05 - Referred to FINANCE [HR273 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HR273-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 1769
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 273 Session of2011
INTRODUCED BY DENLINGER, AUMENT, BAKER, BARRAR, BENNINGHOFF, BOYD, CAUSER, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, DAY, FLECK, GABLER, GEIST, GILLEN, GROVE, HESS, KNOWLES, KRIEGER, MILLARD, MILNE, MOUL, PERRY, PICKETT, RAPP, REICHLEY, ROAE, SCAVELLO, STERN, SWANGER, TALLMAN, VULAKOVICH AND BLOOM, MAY 5, 2011
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, MAY 5, 2011
A RESOLUTION
Memorializing the Congress of the United States to refrain from
imposing unfunded mandates on the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania and its citizens.
WHEREAS, The taxpayers of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
are already facing the prospect of difficult budget cycles
because of diminished tax revenues and growing public
entitlement obligations; and
WHEREAS, This situation is expected to grow worse because of:
(1) an end to Federal stimulus money;
(2) unfunded pension obligations;
(3) urgent infrastructure needs;
(4) the General Assembly's other budgetary obligations;
and
WHEREAS, According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 12% of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's population is now enrolled in
Medicaid; and
WHEREAS, This enrollment costs the Commonwealth of
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Pennsylvania billions in public assistance programs, thus making
welfare entitlements one of the top spending categories in the
State budget; and
WHEREAS, The Urban Institute estimates the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania will see an additional 818,390 people become
eligible, representing a 25% increase in those enrolled in the
Medicaid program if Medicaid eligibility is increased to 133% of
the Federal Poverty Level as contained in HR No. 3590, passed by
the United States Senate; and
WHEREAS, On September 9, 2009, the President of the United
States promised that legislation being considered by the
Congress of the United States would not add to the Federal
deficit but was silent about states bearing the weight of
unfunded mandates; and
WHEREAS, Data from the National Conference of State
Legislatures shows the impact on states will be significant from
this increase with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's added
matching obligation to total $2.31 billion in the 2014-2019
period; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Congress of the
United States to refrain from imposing unfunded mandates on the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and its citizens; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the office of each United States Senator and to the office of
each of the members of the United States House of
Representatives.
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