The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (5/27, Malloy) reports, "On Capitol Hill to cajole members of the Pennsylvania delegation, Gov. Ed Rendell on Wednesday predicted 25,000 layoffs in the commonwealth if a controversial spending bill doesn't pass Congress." The American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, "known as the tax extenders bill, comprises a variety of proposals -- but the one most important to Pennsylvania is a six-month extension of federal matching funds for state Medicaid programs." The Post-Gazette notes, "If the state doesn't get the additional $850 million in Medicaid assistance, adoption of a 2010-11 budget will become even more difficult than it already is. Mr. Rendell wants to spend $29.1 billion for the year beginning July 1, which is considerably larger than the current state budget of $27.8 billion."

UnitedHealth To Boost Annual Dividend Payment

The Los Angeles Times (5/27, Petruno) reports, UnitedHealth Group on Wednesday announced it is boosting its "annual dividend to 50 cents a share, a dramatic jump from the 3-cents-a-share annual payment the company has paid for the last five years." The Times suggests the "dividend payment may give UnitedHealth an edge" in the market place, or it "could subject the company to attacks by consumer advocates, who probably would favor lowered health care premiums over a generous dividend boost for shareholders."
        According to the Sacramento Business Journal (5/27), UnitedHealth said it "will pay the dividend on June 21 to shareholders of record as of June 7."
        The AP (5/27) notes that earlier this year, UnitedHealth said it "would consider a larger dividend after it determined the impact health care reform would have on its business." The Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal (5/27) and the Minneapolis Star Tribune (5/27, Yee) also cover the story.

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