THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

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

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.