WHEREAS, In April 2012, President Obama and Congress passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; and
WHEREAS, The Act provided for significant funding to states for Medicaid expansion; and
WHEREAS, Governor Tom Corbett has indicated that he would not accept such funds; and
WHEREAS, Such funds would provide health insurance to more than 500,000 Pennsylvanians; and
WHEREAS, According to the nonpartisan Independent Fiscal Office, the expansion would also generate $154 million in savings for the state budget in the first fiscal year. That number could increase significantly if the Gross Receipts Tax is levied on services related to expansion. It would also create between 35,000-40,000 new jobs in health-care related fields; and
WHEREAS, On March 26, 2013, Senator Vincent Hughes introduced Senate Bill 12, which would require Pennsylvania to accept such funds; and
WHEREAS, The Bill was referred to Public Health and Welfare Committee of the Pennsylvania Senate but the Committee has not yet held a vote on the Bill; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of Pennsylvania deserve a vote on the Senate floor on Senate Bill 12; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby urges the Pennsylvania Senate to adopt a Discharge Resolution on Senate Bill 12.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution shall be forwarded to the Pennsylvania Senate.
End