Costello, Smucker appear to buck Trump, back bipartisan healthcare plan

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Two local congressman — Lloyd Smucker and Ryan Costello — say a moderate, bipartisan group of House members they belong to, the Problem Solvers Caucus, have reached an agreement on a package of fixes for the Affordable Care Act, a package that could provide a framework for a true bipartisan fix for the healthcare marketplace. After the U.S. Senate rejected a series...

Chesco Congress members split on ACA repeal vote

Updated 5:10 p.m.: Adds comment from Patrick Meehan By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Chester County’s Congressional delegation split Thursday in a closely contested vote to pass the American Health Care Act — the controversial bill that would repeal some sections of the Affordable Care Act, a vote that will likely turn the 2018 Congressional Elections into a referendum on healthcare, much as was...

Congress members can’t hide from the voters

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times The phone rang the other night during dinner, it was a phone “town hall” for U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan (R-7) — I happen to live in the 7th — but the timing was lousy and as a practicing journalist, I kind of feel like it is inappropriate as a journalist to participate in such events. And to be honest — Meehan and his colleagues need to put on their big boy pants...

Another tough week for Corbett

Will GOP turnout take a big hit? And ‘Donationgate’…yawn By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times As Labor Day looms, we kick into high gear for the fall election, campaigns are gearing up with charges, counter charges — and in some races, what appears to be candidates distancing themselves from a certain Harrisburg office holder. That office holder is, of course, Gov. Tom Corbett, who...

Letter: thanks Pitts for recommending Healthcare.gov

To The Editor, Thank you, Congressman Pitts, for recommending HealthCare.gov! Our Congressman Joe Pitts has been an outspoken critic of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and so I was wondering what he would advise a constituent who did not have health insurance. So I emailed him through his website and asked this question: ‘I do not have health insurance and I want to get it. I do not want...

Op/Ed: The Joe Pitts government shutdown

By Tom Houghton, Special to The Times Tom Houghton As a parent, husband, self-employed attorney, former township supervisor and state representative, I watched with dismay as our Washington representative, Joe Pitts, was the only representative in southeastern Pennsylvania, who supported the recent government shutdown. Whatever you think about the new healthcare law (ACA or “Obamacare”), shutting...

Obamacare – what patients are asking

When patients ask, I answer and share them with you By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD, FAGD, Columnist, The Times As a practicing dentist I have a ringside seat to the healthcare industry.  I get asked a lot of questions about the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare – and I thought I would share some of these questions and my take on them. Since this law is so flawed should we just ditch it and start over?...

Letter: Pitts continues to vote against women

To The Editor, Congressman Joe Pitts is very proud of the fact that he has voted against Obamacare 42 times. His stated reason for voting against it is that it is unpopular with businesses. It is too bad that his record shows that he only cares about corporations and the unborn. In his mind, corporations deserve rights but newborns don’t deserve health care. Mr. Pitts also voted against health care...