Rendell: Thousands of Layoffs Without FMAP

Pennsylvannia Governor Ed Rendell is urging Congress to pass a bill expanding federal medical benefits as quickly as possible.
Rendell’s budget counts on 850 million dollars from the anticipated FMAP expansion.
He says if Congress doesn’t pass the bill, he’ll have to cut that money out of the state’s spending plan...

"To lay off 20-thousand people – they would be teachers, state workers, firemen, policemen, case workers. To lay off people like that would just have an incredibly breaking effect on the somewhat significant resurgence in the economy. It makes no sense at all."
Rendell says Pennsylvania isn’t alone, and that a majority of states are also banking on the federal aid.

"And last year 47 governors sent a letter to the Congress saying the FMAP extension is essential. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s tough to get 47 governors to agree that today is – what is today, Tuesday? That today is Tuesday."

The Senate could vote on the bill this week. Pennsylvania's junior Senator Bob Casey supports the bill…

"This is a jobs issue, a fiscal issue, and an issue of whether or not we’re going to protect very vulnerable people."

Pennsylvania is already facing a 1.2 billion dollar revenue gap, and the next fiscal year begins in less than three weeks.
Several Senate Republicans are hesitant to endorse the bill, though, saying federal spending is already way too high.

PA Delegation on President's Afghanistan Plan

Members of Pennsylvania's Congressional delegation are weighing in on President Barack Obama's new war strategy for Afghanistan. Senator Arlen Specter says he opposes the president's plan to send an additional 30 thousand troops there starting in January. Specter says Al Qaeda can operate out of other countries like Yemen and Somalia, so it doesn't make sense to center the fight in Afghanistan, where no one has succeeded in the past.
Senator Bob Casey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee, travelled to Afghanistan in August. He issued a statement saying the country deserves a full accounting of the challenges posed in Afghanistan. Casey's committee plans to question Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Democratic Congressman Jason Altmire of Pittsburgh's North Hills says he fully supports the Administration’s decision to provide commanders in Afghanistan with additional troops. "Make no mistake, the war in Afghanistan is still the central front of the war on terror. In order to keep our country safe, we must take the actions necessary to stabilize Afghanistan and to ensure that it will never again be a safe haven for Al-Qaeda or other terrorist groups.”
Congressman Joe Sestak, who is challenging Specter in the May Democratic Primary, says
the president has presented a plan to allow the nation to complete a mission that is as indispensable today as it was 8 years ago....
"It is a difficult decision. After years of war and with economic challenges at home, the American people are justified in their concern about an increased commitment in Afghanistan. But the President has made the right call. If we leave Al Qaeda behind in a safe haven and are struck again, what can we ever say to those we swore to protect?"

Sestak added that the clear emphasis of the overall goal must remain focused on eliminating the safe haven in Pakistan. And second, we should measure our progress not by a fixed timetable, but by benchmarks of achieving America's security.

Casey Wants Changes to Obama Health Care Overhaul

Pro-life Democrat Bob Casey says he wants to see changes to President Obama's health care overhaul, but he's confident the measure will pass the Senate by year's end.
Casey says Democrats don't have the votes they need to pass health care legislation yet, but argues the reform movement has gained momentum, and will clear the Senate in December.
Casey supports a push to make sure the proposed public option doesn't use public dollars to fund abortions.

"I think there's a consensus in the country not to have federal tax dollars pay for abortions and I think that's the intention of people in both parties here in Washington. But I don't think we're there yet in the current version of the bill."

Casey didn't say whether he'd support barring private plans offering abortion coverage from the public exchange, saying the proposal "complicates" things.
He says since there's no template for that type of initiative, it's difficult to tell whether the Hyde Amendment would apply.
Both Casey and Democrat Arlen Specter voted to begin debate on health care this past weekend.
Specter says health care may not pass this year--but he's confident it will pass the Senate.

"We're going to work at it, but it is more important that it is done right than it is done fast. We're dealing here with a big chunk of the economy. We're dealing with health care for America, and we're going to do it right. And if it takes a little longer we are going to take our time."

Specter says he thinks the final bill will include a public option.

Senator Bob Casey speaks of Middle East Travels

Last week, Senator Bob Casey made a congressional trip to Israel and Turkey along with three other members of legislature. Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, Senator Edward Kaufman of Delaware and Representative Tim Walz of Minnesota joined him. During the trip, Casey says he met with the Israeli president, prime minister, defence minister and deputy foreign minister at different points of the week. Casey says they discussed their concerns of Iran's nuclear weapons, as well as the economy, settlements and furthering a peace process. He also got the opportunity to visit the West Bank and Jericho to see training camps. As a member of the foreign relations committee, Casey says it's important to maintain connections abroad and be familiar with the issues other countries are facing. He last visited the Middle East in November 2005, before he was elected to United States Senate.

Sotomayor Debate Begins in PA

Hispanic communities in Pennsylvania are excited about Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court. None of the 110 Supreme Court Justices in United States history have been Hispanic. Philadelphia lawyer and the president of the Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania
Teresa Rodriguez says Hispanic representation on the court is overdue, but adds that even without this historic factor, Sotomayor is a dynamic court nominee. She says,” This is a person with great educational fortitude. Someone who also brings diversity of perspective. And someone who has led an amazing, incredible and compelling personal story.” Interest groups are already gearing up for the nomination process. Liberal advocate Keystone Progress is urging supporters to email Pennsylvania Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey, to ask them to support Sotomayor's nomination. The nomination is stirring groups on both sides of the political spectrum. Michael Ciccocioppo, the president of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, says he's concerned Sotomayor will be another vote in support of abortion rights, and a judicial activist. He says he disagrees with President Obama's call for a Justice with "empathy." “That's not the role of the Supreme Court, to be empathetic. The role of the Supreme Court is to look at the Constitution, to look at the law, and then to decide whether the law is Constitutional or not” says Ciccocioppo. The liberal group Keystone Progress has already begun an email campaign directed at Pennsylvania Senators Bob Casey and Arlen Specter. They're asking supporters to contact the two Democrats to urge them to support Sotomayor's nomination.