The Patriot News

Gov. Ed Rendell aims to make health insurance affordable for all Pennsylvanians. The Democratic governor's "Prescription for Pennsylvania" remains one of the largest proposals of any state, according to health policy advocates. Here is how it compares with similar proposals in California and Massachusetts.

Massachusetts already has a law, pushed by former Republican Gov. Mitt Romney, that requires every resident to obtain health insurance. Coverage is mandatory, and those without policies face a fine equal to half the cost… more

The state's student financial aid agency is under federal investigation to determine if it collected too much money from the federal government.

The U.S. Department of Education's inspector general yesterday said it is investigating whether the government overpaid the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency....

Michael Dannenberg, director of education policy at the New America Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based nonpartisan public policy group, criticized PHEAA, citing the agency's payment of six-figure bonuses to executives.

He said PHEAA's ability to pay those bonuses… more