As part of Environmental Policy Week, we're taking a look at Daylin's remarkable achievements toward protecting Pennsylvania's natural environment in the House. No issue is more important to Daylin, and his time and effort has translated into results we can all be proud of: » Growing Greener II: Daylin was a prime sponsor and led the floor fight for this enormously successful program that provides $625 million in new funds to clean up streams, preserve open space, and improve our natural infrastructure.

» Renewable Portfolio Standards: Requires Pennsylvania energy companies to produce 18% of their energy through renewable technology, including solar, wind, and geothermal.

» Hybrid Cars: Daylin's proposal, which is now law, requires that $25% of all vehicles in the state fleet be hybrid within ten years.  This saves the environment AND taxpayer dollars.

» Higher CAFE Standards: Mandates that vehicles sold in Pennsylvania get more miles per gallon, depending on the model involved.

» Mercury Emissions: Cuts permissible mercury emissions into Pennsylvania's natural environment by 90%

Under the visionary leadership of both Daylin and Governor Rendell, Pennsylvania is becoming a leader in passing progressive environmental legislation, AND PEOPLE ARE TAKING NOTICE.  Daylin was proud to receive a perfect environmental voting score from the Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter and Clean Water Action.

But the work has only just begun.  Stay tuned later in the week for details on how Daylin Leach plans to take the fight for Pennsylvania's environmental future to the State Senate!

This week I’ve talked a bit about my efforts in the House to expand access to Health Care and have laid out further changes I’ll push in the Senate, particularly in area of Women’s Health. Ultimately, however, I believe our Health Care system will not be accessible and affordable for all Pennsylvanians without some major fundamental changes.

Universal coverage must be our shared ultimate goal. Every major industrial power has figured out how to make health care a right for its citizens, and it is time the richest nation on earth does the same. Until the federal government acts, however, each state must decide how to best deal with the crisis. It is estimated that 1 in 7 Pennsylvanians go without health insurance for all or part of any given year – we have a special duty to act.

I am interested in studying whether Pennsylvania could enact an Individual Insurance Mandate program, similar to what has been established in Massachusetts. This program, which has been successful in reducing the rate of uninsured from 13% to 6% in its first 18 months, mandates that each individual purchase private health insurance or face legal penalties. Those who fall below certain income levels have their premiums subsidized by the state, either full or in part. The subsidies are funded with money previously used for the same purpose through Medicaid. It is too early in the program’s life to know what effect it will ultimately have on Massachusetts’ state budget, but the number of people who now have insurance is remarkable

In the absence of the political will to introduce such a plan in Pennsylvania, I strongly support Governor Rendell’s Access to Basic Care proposal (PA ABC), a realistic plan that will make private, affordable basic health insurance available to the uninsured and to small businesses that do not currently offer coverage, and establish effective regulation to ensure costs are manageable. PA ABC is funded by the Tobacco Settlement, the Community Health Reinvestment Fund, federal matching funds, and low subscriber premiums. I was proud to help pass PA ABC in the House, but it unfortunately was not able to gain support in the Senate. If elected, I will work with the Rendell administration to keep the fight for expanded access to affordable health care alive and moving forward.

For more information, visit: www.RXforPA.com.

This week I’ve talked a bit about my efforts in the House to expand access to Health Care and have laid out further changes I’ll push in the Senate, particularly in area of Women’s Health. Ultimately, however, I believe our Health Care system will not be accessible and affordable for all Pennsylvanians without some major fundamental changes.

Universal coverage must be our shared ultimate goal. Every major industrial power has figured out how to make health care a right for its citizens, and it is time the richest nation on earth does the same. Until the federal government acts, however, each state must decide how to best deal with the crisis. It is estimated that 1 in 7 Pennsylvanians go without health insurance for all or part of any given year – we have a special duty to act.

I am interested in studying whether Pennsylvania could enact an Individual Insurance Mandate program, similar to what has been established in Massachusetts. This program, which has been successful in reducing the rate of uninsured from 13% to 6% in its first 18 months, mandates that each individual purchase private health insurance or face legal penalties. Those who fall below certain income levels have their premiums subsidized by the state, either full or in part. The subsidies are funded with money previously used for the same purpose through Medicaid. It is too early in the program’s life to know what effect it will ultimately have on Massachusetts’ state budget, but the number of people who now have insurance is remarkable

In the absence of the political will to introduce such a plan in Pennsylvania, I strongly support Governor Rendell’s Access to Basic Care proposal (PA ABC), a realistic plan that will make private, affordable basic health insurance available to the uninsured and to small businesses that do not currently offer coverage, and establish effective regulation to ensure costs are manageable. PA ABC is funded by the Tobacco Settlement, the Community Health Reinvestment Fund, federal matching funds, and low subscriber premiums. I was proud to help pass PA ABC in the House, but it unfortunately was not able to gain support in the Senate. If elected, I will work with the Rendell administration to keep the fight for expanded access to affordable health care alive and moving forward.

For more information, visit: www.RXforPA.com.

If universal health coverage is our goal in Pennsylvania, as Daylin believes it should be, we have some real challenges ahead of us.  It is estimated that nearly 1 in 4 Pennsylvanians go without Health Care for all or part of any given year, and 77% of those are members of working households.  Our aging population means more people struggling to find the means to pay for prescription drugs and nursing care.  And 258,000 Pennsylvanian children go uninsured each year...258,000 children!

Fortunately, Daylin Leach has worked successfully with his House colleagues to extend care to those who need it.  Daylin voted to expand PACE and PACEnet, Pennsylvania's wonderful prescription drug assistance program for seniors, which has allowed thousands of senior to save big at the pharmacy.  He supported for Governor Rendell's program, Cover All Kids, which provides health care for 30,000 Pennsylvanian children who earn too much to qualify for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) but still can't afford to purchase insurance.  And Daylin's bill to expand state coverage of mammograms for low income woman 40 and over was signed by Governor Rendell in 2005.

Daylin is proud of his role in these accomplishments, but understands how much more work there is to be done.  Look for details in the coming week, or visit here and here for more information!