With a Democratic president-elect and larger Democratic majorities in Congress, the hospital community faces challenges during 2009 in regard to a strong labor agenda that likely will lead with card check legislation (the Employee Free Choice Act). This legislation would enable unions to bypass the traditional National Labor Relations Board secret balloting process for unionization, and enable union advocates to gain representation through the “card check” process of signing people up. When Congress returns in January, it will face a fiscal year 2009 federal deficit nearing $500 billion (not including the war in Iraq), and Medicaid and Medicare payments will be vulnerable.

In Pennsylvania, Democrats in the House of Representatives appear to have picked up two seats to increase their previous slim majority, and Senate Republicans have increased their majority by one. Most political analysts agree that Governor Rendell will continue to aggressively pursue his agenda during his final two years in office, supported by more Democrat votes in the House and the new leadership in Washington. This will likely result in stronger partisan positioning in the General Assembly, especially about how to address the growing state budget deficit. HAP’s summary of election results (pdf) is available online.

This website provides an easy way for hospital community to register to vote, apply for absentee ballots, review the voting records of incumbent officeholders, read policy statements from HAP and major business associations, and find polling locations.

2007-2008 Key Health Care Votes

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