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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 28, 2017 02:49 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Brandon P. Neuman |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Co-sponsorship of Legislation: Taxpayer Protection Against Fraud Act |
In the near future I will be reintroducing legislation creating the Taxpayer Protection Against Fraud Act – Pennsylvania’s version of a false claims act. This bill is designed to drastically reduce waste, fraud and abuse in state government. Similar legislation has been introduced in the House over the course of the past decade. The Federal False Claims Act was first signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln to combat fraud that was being perpetrated by unscrupulous companies in the sale of supplies to the Union Army. It created a unique private-public partnership that gives a citizen the right to act as a sort of “private attorney general” and file suit on behalf of the US Government against those who have acted to defraud it. As an incentive for citizens to bring such claims, the Act also gives citizens the right to share in the Government’s recovery. Since the 1980’s when the Act was strengthened considerably amid incredible stories of defense contractors charging the US Navy hundreds of dollars for a hammer and a toilet seat, it has been wildly successful in returning money to the United States Treasury. Between 2009 and 2016 Federal False Claims Act settlements and judgments have totaled $31.3 billion. In order to encourage the pursuit of Medicaid fraud at the State level, Congress enacted a law in 2007 that would increase a State’s share of recovery under a successful lawsuit involving Federal and State funds by 10% if the State had in effect a qualifying false claims act. For instance, if in a particular Medicaid fraud case a State’s share of recovery is 50% with the Federal Government taking the other 50%, the State would instead be entitled to 60% and the Federal Government 40%. My bill has already been reviewed by the Federal agency charged with approving State false claims acts for purposes of the additional 10% recovery and I have every reason to believe that if enacted, it will be finally approved as well. Twenty-nine States and the District of Columbia have their own version of a false claims act that protect and reward whistleblowers while punishing those who steal taxpayer dollars through fraudulent acts against State governments. Pennsylvania is not among them. In these continuing tough economic times, we cannot afford to ignore any additional source of new revenue. The Taxpayer Protection Against Fraud Act would provide the Commonwealth with just such a revenue source. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB1027