Health Care

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, in South America there is a tenacious parasitic plant that attaches itself to trees. As it climbs to the top of the tree canopy seeking the light, the plant thrives. But eventually, in the end, it kills the tree.

That is what an unfunded mandate by the Federal Government does to States. Putting more people onto Medicaid arguably is a good thing that takes people off the roles of the uninsured. But the Pelosi health care bill will cost all of the States an added $34 billion in new burdens.

My Pennsylvania colleagues and I warned our Governor back when we thought people at 133 percent of the poverty level would be eligible for Medicaid. That would have cost the State $2.2 billion over 10 years. Now we are looking at those at 150 percent of poverty level. That will add 15 million to the Medicaid program nationwide.

Tennessee Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen called it ``the mother of all unfunded mandates.''

We may soon be saying our prayers for many of our States, when a program intended to help poor women, children, and the disabled turns out to be the death knell for a number of State budgets.

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