REP. STEPHANIE STUCKEY BENFIELD'S
LEGISLATIVE REPORT
Week of January 29 - February 2, 2007
WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE REPORT - February 2, 2007
By Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield
Funding Crisis Jeopardizes Future of PeachCare Insurance Program
Georgia's PeachCare program, which provides health insurance for over 270,000 low-income children, is in serious jeopardy of losing its federal funding. Created by Congress in 1997, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) provides health insurance for more than 6 million people nationwide. The program is funded by a combination of state and federal dollars. Georgia's PeachCare program requires a 40% match by the state. While Georgia is committed to continuing to pay its share of the program, we can't do it alone. There is currently a $131 million federal shortage in Georgia - and sixteen other states face similar shortages in their S-CHIP programs. Without the infusion of these federal funds, PeachCare will be bankrupt by March.
Governor Perdue testified before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee on February 1, asking that Congress release the needed funds. The governor explained that the shortfall is due to the funding formula, which is tied in part to outdated census figures. Georgia is the fourth fastest growing state in the nation, so the funding formula has not kept pace with our state's growth. Governor Perdue says that there is $1 billion federal S-CHIP funds that are unspent - enough to cover the shortfall in all sixteen states facing a budget crisis.
While I hope that the federal government comes through with funding, this is too important an issue for leaders at the state level to simply wait for the feds to act. The Democratic leadership in the Georgia House has introduced House Bill 236, which would authorize the governor to release additional funds for PeachCare when needed. Republican leaders have criticized the proposal as premature and argue that pushing for state dollars now will discourage the feds from approving the funds. However, I think the responsible course of action is to have a backup plan in place in case the funds don't come through. Healthcare for 270,000 children in Georgia is too critical to put at risk with a game of "chicken". I encourage everyone who is concerned about this issue to call their U.S. Senators and Congressperson, urging their support for the PeachCare program.
To protect children of all ages from the harmful environment of illegal drug activity, I have introduced HB 281. This legislation, which has strong bipartisan support, would create drug-free zones around child care learning centers. Presently, the sale, manufacture or possession of illegal drug within 1,000 feet of a school constitutes a criminal offense with additional penalties. My legislation, which was proposed by a constituent, would add child care centers as similar drug-free zones.
Consumers will be allowed to purchase the wine of their choice over the internet , under a measure I co-sponsored in the House. HB 159 will allow wineries to ship up to 24 cases of wine a year directly to Georgia residents aged 21 years or older. Current Georgia law only allows Georgia consumers to purchase wines in person at a winery and then ship up to five cases to their home. But Georgians can't order these wines from their home. Direct shipment of wine is legal in 32 states. Sen. Renee Unterman has introduced a similar bill, SB 56, in the Georgia Senate.
This week, I also introduced House Resolution 168, which urges Congress to adopt the National Health Insurance Act, which would expand eligibility for and improve Medicare to provide health insurance for all Americans, while containing the nation's health care expenditures through savings from low overhead costs of Medicare and lower rate of spending increases compared to private health insurance plans. This measure was also proposed to me by a constituent.
The legislature is in official recess until Thursday, February 8, which will be the 15 th legislative day of the 2007 session. On February 10, the General Assembly will meet for a rare Saturday session as Family Day is observed. This will give Georgians who are unable to visit the Capitol during the work week an opportunity to see the lawmaking process in action.
Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield (D-Atlanta) represents the 85 th District (DeKalb County) in the Georgia House of Representatives. Contact her at 512 Coverdell Office Building, Atlanta, GA 30334; by phone at 404-656-7859 or by e-mail at stuckey@mindspring.com.
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