PathWays PA Policy Blog

Take Action for PA Girls! Contact your State Senator and State Representative, and urge them to support Senate Bill 890 and House Bill 2061 , the legislation requiring Pennsylvania secondary schools to publicly disclose information pertaining to Title IX requirements. Find your state legislators and their contact information here . Title IX is the federal law passed in 1972 that requires educational institutions to give equal treatment to male and female athletes. Despite great progress made in the 38 years since this law was enacted, high school girls still receive 1.3 million fewer participation opportunities than do boys, and evidence suggests that the money spent on girls' sports programs lags significantly behind the money spent on boys' programs. More information can be found on the Women's Law Project's website . National Girls and Women in Sports Day News Conference Join State Representative Tim Briggs, State Senator Mary Jo White, and the Pennsylvania Commissi

On Januar y 29, 2009, President Obama signed into law the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act , which clarified that every discriminatory paycheck or action restarts the clock for filing a pay discrimination complaint. As more steps need to be taken on equal pay, this anniversary marks the perfect time to move forward. Lilly Ledbetter plans to mark the day by visiting members of Congress to talk about the Paycheck Fairness Act , which will close loopholes that allow unequal pay to continue. What will you do for the day? Tell your equal pay story on our blog and/or to your Senator ? Learn more about Paycheck Fairness from our friends at the National Partnership for Women and Families ? Read the NWLC's state by state data ? Take a moment to celebrate the Ledbetter Act by thanking your legislators for what they have done so far, and asking them to continue working towards paycheck fairness? Some more equal pay facts: Women earn about 78 cents on the dollar compared to men, and a recent stu

By Janet Walsh Paid parental leave is a human right, one guaranteed by virtually every country. But not the United States! When you gave birth or adopted your kids, did you take leave without pay? How did this affect breastfeeding, your health, your baby’s health, or your family’s finances? How did this affect the timing of your return to work? How else did the lack of paid parental leave affect you and your family? Human Rights Watch, a nongovernmental human rights group, is hoping to interview parents about their experience with unpaid maternity and paternity leave, and the impact on their families. The interviews will be used for a report (using pseudonyms, not actual names of interviewees) and, depending on the findings, for making recommendations on US law and policy. Please contact Human Rights Watch at walshj@hrw.org if you would like to share your story through a short interview. To learn more about Human Rights Watch, visit www.hrw.org . Janet Walsh is Deputy Director o

Tonight, President Obama will give his first State of the Union Address. Before he shares his thoughts about the current status of our country, in particular health care reform, you can make your own voice heard. Call your Senators and Representative today and let them know how you feel about the health care reform proposals. You can also call the White House at 202-456-1111. It is crucial for our voices to be heard in this all-important national debate. Feel free to include your thoughts in the comment section below. Image courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlund/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

While the health care debate continues in Washington, a major change is occurring to adultBasic, a program that helps low income Pennsylvanians afford insurance. Eligible Pennsylvanians without health care have been able to turn to adultBasic for coverage, even when they are on the waitlist. In Pennsylvania more than 40,000 are receiving the full benefits of the program, while the waitlist stands at over 300,000 . 3,500 individuals on the waitlist have chosen to buy into the program at full cost until they can access the program at the $35 per month cost. The amount of time someone will spend on the wait list varies, depending on when people apply as well as funding. Generally those on the waitlist must wait at least one year . The rate to buy into the program is approximately $330 a month. However, in March, this buy-in amount will increase by 80 percent. Individuals on the waitlist will then have to pay $600 per month on average for coverage. Individuals who buy into ad

(Thanks to our friends at Women Against Abuse for sharing this information). Did you know that one in three female teenagers is a victim of physical, emotional, or verbal abuse from a dating partner? Or that 40 percent of teen dating violence incidents occur on school grounds? On January 28, the city of Philadelphia will proclaim February as Teen Dating Violence Awareness month, with the above statistics (and more) making up part of the proclamation . You can join City Council as they make the proclamation: January 28, 2010, 10 a.m., Philadelphia City Hall, Room 400. In February, Women Against Abuse will also be holding trainings for teachers and professionals around teen dating violence. If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, please seek help. There are many resources available, including the 24-Hour Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline(866-723-3014). The National Domestic Violence Hotline is also available- 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) 1.800.787.3224 (TTY). Teen

Federal Urgent Request to Sign Petition: Support the Consumer Financial Protection Agency Today The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) recently launched a petition campaign supporting the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA). The CFPA passed in the House bill, but it is currently being debated in the Senate. Senators are debating whether to instead pass a different regulatory reform bill, which would likely result in only nominal changes in the financial system. The CFPA will be an independent consumer financial protection agency with enforcement authority that will increase transparency and serve as the sole agency dedicated entirely to consumer rights. Please take a moment to sign the petition . For more information on banking reform, please click here . Information/Events Conference Call Invitation - How to Secure Unemployment Insurance Reforms for Women and Families in Your State The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) set aside $7 billion to enc

Thank you to our friends at the Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN) for putting these charts together. They provide a side-by-side comparison of the Affordability Provisions contained in the U.S. House and Senate health care reform bills, based on a family of three. Premiums – The table compares premiums for subsidized families under the House and Senate bills. Family Income House Bill Senate Bill Income as % of FPL Annual Salary Annual Premium Monthly Premium Annual Premium Monthly Premium 150% $27,465 $824 $68.67 $1,263 $105.25 200% $36,620 $2,014 $167.83 $2,307 $192.25 300% $54,930 $5,493 $457.75 $5,383 $448.58 400% $73,240 $8,789 $732.41 $7,178 $598.16 Out of Pocket Expenses – The table compares annual out-of-pocket maximums for subsidized families under the House and Senate bills. Family Income House Bill Senate Bill

State PA Budget Continues to See Changes With the FY2010-2011 budget address drawing near, work on the FY2009-2010 budget has not yet drawn to a close. After 101 days without a budget and the signing of a table games bill just two weeks ago, funds have now been moved from budgetary items to a budgetary reserve, which means they cannot be spent. Cuts include : A 5.2% cut in Agriculture A 2.4% cut in Environmental Protection A 3.4% cut in Health A 4.1% cut in Labor and Industry A 0.6% cut in Public Welfare Line item decreases include Industry Partnerships; children's health insurance; county child welfare; autism intervention; mental health services; and Pre-K Counts. For a full list, please see this chart from the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center or this copy of the line item changes 32 line items, including New Choices New Options , have been fully cut. These changes to the budget have been made following lower state revenues than projected. Budget

The Achieving Independence Center (AIC) wants caring and supportive adults willing to build a friendship with a foster care youth. You can be that big brother or sister a youth in foster care needs by sharing your life experiences, time, and friendship. Having a shoulder to lean on when times get tough helps young people stay focused and not lose hope. Whether it is providing them with caring support, friendship, or helping them with their aspirations (personal and professional), the AIC Mentoring Program can match you with a young person between the ages of 16-21 who could benefit from your knowledge and experience. The AIC is a “one-stop” center designed to assist young people ages 16-21 achieve their future goals of self-sufficiency. The AIC is dedicated to providing support and real life tools for youth who want to make an investment in their future! Help a youth build their self-esteem and achieve their personal goals. You make a difference by simply getting involved. For additio

PathWays PA’s basic tax preparation service is designed to provide free tax filing for households whose income does not exceed $50,000. We can also assist tax filers who are disabled or who do not speak English as their first language. If you or someone you know would like to have taxes prepared by the Self Sufficiency team, please call the numbers below to schedule an appointment. Philadelphia PathWays PA West Philly Office 3617 Lancaster Avenue Philadelphia, PA To schedule an appointment call Linda at 215-387-1470 Mondays 10am – 2pm (starting February 1st) Tuesdays and Thursdays 2pm -6pm PathWays PA EARN Center 926 W. Allegheny Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19133 To schedule an appointment call 215-226-2600 Wednesdays and Fridays 9:30am -12:30pm (starting January 27th) Saturdays January 30 and February 6 10am - 2pm Delaware County PathWays PA Administrative Office 310 Amosland Road Holmes, PA 19043 To schedule an appointment call Ann DelCollo at 610-543-5022 Mondays and Wednesdays 2pm - 6

As one newspaper article puts it, there is good news and bad news on the LIHEAP front . The good news for those who need LIHEAP, which stands for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, is that the season has been extended until April 2, 2010 (originally it was scheduled to close on March 15). Additionally, the crisis grant season has now been opened, making accessible additional funding for those in emergency situations such as broken heating equipment, lack of fuel, or danger of heating shut-off. Governor Rendell also announced an additional payment of LIHEAP funds in February for those who have already qualified for the service. The bad news is that LIHEAP is still reaching fewer people this year due to a lower eligibility level compared to previous seasons. In 2008, families earning below 210 percent of the Federal Poverty Level- or about $44,520 for a family of four- could access the program. This year, only families earning below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level ($

(From the PA Department of Health) The Pennsylvania Department of Health will continue its vaccination efforts at 60 state health centers every Saturday through February 6, from 9 a.m. to noon. Appointments are not needed. In addition, staff will be holding immunization clinics on specific days during the week. For more information and to find a clinic, call 1-877-PA HEALTH. For more information about H1N1, visit www.H1N1inPA.com or call 1-877-PA HEALTH (1-877-724-3258). (photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28798135@N07/ / CC BY-NC 2.0 )

With the FY2010-2011 budget address drawing near, work on the FY2009-2010 budget has not yet drawn to a close. After 101 days without a budget and the signing of a table games bill just last week, funds have now been moved from budgetary items to a budgetary reserve, which means they cannot be spent. Cuts include : A 5.2% cut in Agriculture A 2.4% cut in Environmental Protection A 3.4% cut in Health A 4.1% cut in Labor and Industry A 0.6% cut in Public Welfare Line item decreases include Industry Partnerships; children's health insurance; county child welfare; autism intervention; mental health services; and Pre-K Counts. For a full list, please see this chart from the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center or this copy of the line item changes 32 line items, including New Choices New Options , have been fully cut. These changes to the budget have been made following lower state revenues than projected. Budget cuts are expected to save about $161 million, with Governor Rendell

(From our friends at the National Women's Law Center) Boys & Girls Clubs of America and The National Women’s Law Center bring you: Tax Credits: What Families Need to Know. Receive an explanation of some of the credits available for Families, including the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit and the new Making Work Pay Credit. Receive tips for sharing information about tax credits with families and come learn how families can receive THOUSANDS of dollars in credits. Title: TAX Credits: What Families Need to Know! Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/539139467 (image courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tracy_olson/ / CC BY-SA 2.0 )

While January 29 marks the one-year anniversary of when President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, we still have work to do regarding equal pay. The Ledbetter Act clarified that every discriminatory paycheck or action restarts the clock for filing a pay discrimination complaint. The passage of the Ledbetter Act was one step forward for women, but more steps need to be taken. Bills such as the Paycheck Fairness Act , which close loopholes that allow unequal pay to continue, are needed to stop pay discrimination. Currently, women earn about 78 cents on the dollar compared to men, and a recent study by the Keystone Research Center pinpoints the gender wage gap in Pennsylvania at about $4 per hour . Because of this gap, women (and their families) lose between $400,000 and $2,000,000 due to unequal pay. During the recession, as more families are relying on women's income, the need for equal pay is even more critical. So on January 29, please take a moment to celebra

This week Raising Women’s Voices of Southeastern Pennsylvania, a coalition which includes PathWays PA, will be holding a phone bank to protect women's access to abortion in the final health care reform bill. WHEN: Wednesday, January 13 - 5:30pm to 8:00pm WHERE: WOMEN’S WAY, 123 South Broad Street, Suite 1399, Philadelphia Registration is required. Please RSVP to rfoley@womensway.org . If you can't phone bank, you can still raise your voice! In the coming weeks the House and Senate Health Care Bills will be combined into a single bill that will make it to the President’s desk to be signed into law. We must all take the time to make sure our voices are heard before Congress finalizes a health reform bill! What you can do: Contact your Senators and Representative and urge them to vote against restrictions on abortion access. For more information, visit the Raising Women's Voices website. Image courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitchbuzz/ / CC BY 2.0

In New York City the Health Department has proposed a new rule which would call for horses that are hitched to carriages that carry tourists to be given five weeks of job protected vacations every year . The horses would continue to enjoy their standard payment, room and board, during this time. This new regulation is not just for the humane treatment of animals but also the time off would likely prolong the horse’s work-life and enhance their productivity. As discussed by Jodie Levin-Epstein in the Huffington Post : Vacations are good for your health . And, you don't need to get away to any fancy Caribbean retreat to get the benefit of time-off from work. But it helps if you are a horse. In New York City, that is. It's time for Congress and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to pony-up to the value of vacation for two-legged workers. In the United States, there is no minimum standard for even paid sick leave, leaving 48 percent of workers have no paid sick d

State Budget Update – Table Game Legislation Signed With only a month to go before the next year’s budget objectives are announced, the Governor signed a bill legalizing table games at Pennsylvania’s slot casinos on Thursday. The table games include poker, blackjack, and roulette. The new law is expected to generate millions in license fees to close a gap in the current year's budget, and to produce revenues for state and local governments in future years. Passage of the bill also prevents the Governor’s proposed layoff of 1,000 state workers. According to the bill, table games would be taxed at a rate of 16 percent, with 14 percent going directly to the state and 1 percent to each the casino's county and its municipality. The state's share would go to the general fund to fill budget shortfalls until the state's Rainy Day Fund reaches $750 million. After that, all table-game revenue will go toward property-tax relief. $3 million will be set aside for gambling and oth