Medicine ball

SOCCER OR health care?

Families facing a decision to pay for soccer lessons or health care would laugh at the idea there's such a choice.

Our state Legislature not only doesn't laugh, but it chooses soccer.

Yesterday, the state announced plans to contribute $45 million toward the construction of a soccer stadium in Chester so that the state can lure a professional soccer team here. On hand were Gov. Rendell and Senate Majority Leader Domenic Pileggi, whose district includes Chester.

As leader, Pileggi is also in a position to champion a bill that would provide health care for all Pennsylvanians. "Cover All Pennsylvanians" would provide affordable health insurance for the 800,000 uninsured people in the state - most of them uninsured workers. It would be funded from a surplus in the medical-malpractice fund and by an additional tax on cigarettes, and a new one on smokeless tobacco.

In other words, it would cost the state nothing. So why is Pileggi urging caution in adopting this? Foot-dragging may be OK in soccer, but not on this smart, thoughtful solution to a crisis that hits so many. *