Committee Defers Vote on Guv’s Healthcare Plan

February 13th, 2008 at 08:00pm Andrea Zimmermann

A committee of lawmakers decided Wednesday to put off consideration of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s latest health care plan until after his big speech next week. The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules decided against voting on the governor’s request to make his “emergency” healthcare program permanent.

The governor’s top healthcare aides were all dressed up, but with nowhere to go. The committee refused to hear testimony from Barry Maram, director of the state Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and other department officials.

The impending vote stems from the governor’s decision in November to sidestep and implement the health care plan — a component of the governor’s larger push for universal health care — by declaring an “emergency” rule.

The committee, who under state law has the power to review the governor’s administrative rules, rejected the so-called emergency in a 9-2 vote, and Blagojevich responded by claiming its ruling was not binding.

On Wednesday, the governor’s department asked the committee to consider rules that would make the program permanent. The commitee, which includes Republicans and Democrats of both chambers, voted 10-0 to take up the issue again on Feb. 26, after the governor gives his budget address on Feb. 20.

One committee member said after the vote that lawmakers are eager to hear how the governor intends to pay for the health care expansion.

Entry Filed under: Rod Blagojevich, Illinois politics