April 19, 2010                                                                                      
Contact: Pete Peterson, (215) 990-8928

 Meehan Criticizes Lentz Support of Raid on Doctors’ Fund    

Commonwealth Court ruled state must repay $808 million in funds illegally taken

from MCare Fund, a program designed to help keeps doctors in Pennsylvania

DREXEL HILL, PA – Former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan today criticized State Rep. Bryan Lentz for his support of a budgetary scheme last October that transferred more than $800 million dollars out of a program designed to retain doctors in Pennsylvania by addressing rising medical liability insurance costs in the state.  The Commonwealth Court, in a 4-1 decision, ruled on Thursday that the raid on the funds was illegal and that the state must repay the $808 million it took, leaving a huge whole in the state budget for the coming year.

“This program, funded on the backs of doctors and health care providers, was created to address the high costs of medical liability insurance in their industry and to prevent the continued exodus of doctors from Pennsylvania,” said Meehan.  “Bryan Lentz has clearly demonstrated his willingness to rob Peter to pay Paul and no account, not even Social Security or Medicare will be safe if Rep. Lentz is elected to Congress.”

Meehan noted that the state budget passed by the Pennsylvania House earlier this month – with the support of Lentz -- contained similar irresponsible budget and funding practices.  Most notably, the budget adopted by the House relies on $850 million in federal funds that have not been approved or voted on by the U.S. Congress. 

The provision raiding the MCare fund was contained in House Bill 1614, an act that amended the state fiscal code.  It was passed by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on October 9, 2009 with the support of Bryan Lentz as part of the budget process.  The raid on the MCare fund was decried by numerous House Republicans who called the move unconstitutional during the debate of the bill and following its passage.  Many at the time correctly predicted the raid would be overturned by the courts.

About Pat Meehan

A former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the former District Attorney of Delaware County, Pat Meehan has a proven record of rooting out government waste and corruption, prosecuting tough criminal cases, and implementing innovative new programs to make our communities safer.  As U.S. Attorney, Meehan helped coordinate the region’s terrorism preparedness and response, held manufacturers responsible for illegally discharging hazardous materials into the region’s waters, and established a group to crackdown on predatory lending.  Pat, his wife Carolyn and their three sons Patrick, Jack and Colin, reside in Drexel Hill, Delaware County.   For more information, please visit www.meehanforcongress.com.