Sen. Brady: Governor is circumventing legislature again

[October 11, 2008]  SPRINGFIELD -- State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, says Gov. Rod Blagojevich is once again trying to skirt the legislative process by moving participants from one state-backed insurance program to another when they no longer meet age requirements.

Brady says the administration wants to move children who no longer meet the age requirements from the state's All Kids health care program to the state's Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan.

"Here he goes again, ignoring the balance of government and acting irresponsibly by trying to expand a state program without having it approved by the General Assembly," said Brady. "He has tried before to act without legislative approval and has been sued. In fact, less than two weeks ago, the First District Appellate Court in Chicago ruled that the governor overstepped his authority by trying to expand the FamilyCare program without legislative approval. And it now appears that pharmacies are being told by the state that they will not be reimbursed for the cost of drugs dispensed under that expanded program."

Brady sent letters expressing his concerns about the CHIP Bridge Plan to members of the CHIP board of directors before it met in Chicago on Friday. The CHIP Bridge Plan was listed on the agenda for that meeting. He said he sent the letters "as a state lawmaker, as the Republican spokesman of the Senate Insurance Committee and as an ex-officio member of the CHIP board of directors."

Last year the 44th District senator also contacted Michael McRaith, director of the Illinois Division of Insurance, about his concerns with the CHIP Bridge Plan.

"When is this governor going to learn? How many times does he have to be dragged into court, at great expense to the state? He must act within the limits set by the constitution," Brady said. "The legislature has to approve any expansions to these kinds of state programs. This governor continues to offer up empty promises, then leaves citizens without insurance coverage and sticks health care providers with the bill."

[Text from file sent on behalf of Sen. Bill Brady by Illinois Senate Republican staff]