Senator Regola undecided about health insurance plan for small business

Governor Ed Rendell visited Community Action of Westmoreland County on May 21st to talk about a House-passed plan to provide health insurance to uninsured adults who are working full-time.  The Pittsburgh Tribune Review covered the event.

"The vast majority of Pennsylvania's uninsured adults have full-time jobs, and many are employed by small businesses that struggle to make a profit.  More and more, these small businesses are forced to choose between continuing to pay hefty insurance premiums and letting their employees go without insurance," Rendell said.

"Rendell said the Republican-controlled Senate could kill Senate Bill 1137 by refusing to bring it to the floor for a vote.  The House passed a similar bill in March," according to the article.

Senator Robert Regola represents Westmoreland County in the Pennsylvania Senate.  Interviewed after Rendell spoke, Regola declined to state a position.  "I've never said anything one way, publicly, or another on it.  I have been carefully studying it, though."  Regola went on to criticize SB 1137 because it would provide health insurance for about one-third of uninsured adults, and not all of them.

Peter Wast, an area businessman who employs nearly 50 people and does not offer a health plan to his employees, expressed support for the plan so long as it does not raise business, income or across-the-board sales taxes.  As described by the Governor, the only additional taxes required by SB 1137 would be an additional 10 cents on a pack of cigarettes and first-time taxes on cigars and smokeless tobacco.