STATEHOUSE (Feb. 22, 2010) - Members of the Senate voted in favor of a resolution urging the Indiana Attorney General to explore all legal options available to the state regarding the potential passage of the federal health-care reform bill.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 39, authored by State Sen. Scott Schneider (R-Indianapolis), is aimed at protecting the taxpayers of Indiana by urging the Attorney General Greg Zoeller to explore all options available to Indiana if the federal health-care reform is passed.

Schneider said the current version of the health-care reform bill’s impact on Indiana taxpayers is of serious concerns:

Costs Indiana over $2.4 billion in the next 10 years by expanding Medicaid costs;

Diverts $750 million of pharmaceutical rebate savings back to Washington D.C.;

• Costs Indiana between $60 million and $80 million to implement the insurance changes;
• Raises new excise taxes on medical devices and pharmaceutical manufactures that employ over 35,000 Hoosiers; and
• Regulations would essentially convert private insurance companies into public utilities.

“By passing this resolution, we are attempting to protect the taxpayers of Indiana,” Schneider said. “We need to explore all the options available, legal and otherwise.”

SCR39 now moves to the Indiana House of Representatives for further action.

Sen. Schneider represents Senate District 30, which includes portions of Hamilton and Marion counties.