Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. That completes our Calendar for today. Are there any speeches on the part of the minority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
Thank you, April 10th Council session, my colleagues Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez and Councilman Darrell Clarke and I held our resolution urging Independence Blue Cross to reach agreements with Hahnemann University Hospital and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children to pay market competitive rates for services provided to Independence Blue Cross members and seeking a 30-day extension on contract negotiations. I am pleased to note that yesterday Independence Blue Cross and Hahnemann University Hospital and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children have broken the impasse in their contract negotiations. They have reached an agreement in principle and extend their current contract, which would have expired yesterday, April 30th, while they work out the details. The target effective date for the new contract is July 1, 2008. are pleased with the progress this agreement makes in reducing the inequities in medical reimbursement rates that they have historically experienced despite the high-quality service they provide to Philadelphians. I know that Councilman Quinones-Sanchez and Councilman Clarke and I are pleased because of what this means to our constituents and their children. Now tens of thousands of Independence Blue Cross members who are patients at Hahnemann University Hospital and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children will not be negatively impacted with additional costs for non-emergency services had those hospitals become out-of-network healthcare providers on the expiration of the Independence Blue Cross contract. We are pleased that we have played a constructive role in this difficult negotiation process. Thank you.
Thank you. Are there any other speeches on the part of the minority? (No response.)
Are there speeches on the part of the majority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Madam President. I want to recognize the work that was done by this Council, this body, to pass the original moratorium on sheriff's sales, which has evolved to mean a diversion of sheriff's sales and people impacted by predatory lending and the economy and victims of that. I want to say that this was a piece of good work, but our work is not done. As we travel throughout the City and we realize that our constituents have $3.60 on average to pay in gas, as bread $2 a loaf, as we start to look at the price of cereal, milk and eggs and other things that are touched by the high price of oil, everything from asphalt to fix our streets and derivatives of gas that fix our eyeglasses, that we are making decisions in this Council that do not necessarily impact the cost of gasoline, do not necessarily impact the cost of bread, but what we have done, the good work we have done; for example, the benefits bill, the minimum wage bill, are being signed into law today. That's a product of Wilson Goode's introduction, but this body's good work. So we cannot affect the price of gasoline, but we can ease the suffering of some of our constituents, particularly those who find themselves under the poverty guidelines, and I want to acknowledge for the record the good work that was done by this body. I think as we look forward, our work isn't done. We need to save the need to continue to support that effort, as we look at inflation rates that range, depending on what economist you look to, anywhere from four percent to as much as 11 percent. You may not call it a recession. Some people don't even call a depression, but the people that I come in contact with consider themselves going through some very, very difficult times, and I want to commend this body for the work it's doing. Thank you.
Thank you. Are there any other speeches on the part of the majority? (No response.)
Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that Council Thursday, May 8, 2008, 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, May 8th. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. (Stated Meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.) CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on May 1, 2008, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)