PathWays PA Policy Blog

Governor Wolf presented his sixth budget today with a focus on education, supporting workers and the workforce, and reducing gun violence. Overall, the budget increases spending to $36 billion compared to last year. Governor Wolf also proposed a higher minimum wage (as he did last year), raising the current rate of $7.25/hour to $12/hour by July and then increasing the wage over time until it reaches $15 in 2026. The last time the minimum wage increased in Pennsylvania was when the federal government increased the wage in 2009. Here are some of the articles we've been reading on the budget: Highlights of the proposed 2020-21 Pennsylvania budget Pa. Governor’s Budget Pushes for Addressing Asbestos in Schools, College Debt Aid Pa. budget: Another year of flat funding for public libraries lands them in ‘Loser’ list Governor Wolf Urges Legislature to Tackle Gun Violence, Student Debt, Toxic Schools Click here for large version Click here to view larger version

We're heading into another budget season - time to break out the spreadsheets and charts! Governor Wolf presented his budget today with a focus on education and jobs, with what both sides described as a bipartisan outlook  or at the very least places where both parties could find agreement . Overall, the budget increases spending by 4.2% (or $1.4 billion) compared to last year. Nearly $300 million would go towards increased education spending for K-12, special education, and state universities. Governor Wolf also proposed a higher minimum wage, raising the current rate of $7.25/hour to $12/hour by July and then increasing the wage over time until it reaches $15 in 2025. The last time the minimum wage increased in Pennsylvania was when the federal government increased the wage in 2009. Here are some of the articles we've been reading on the budget: Schools, farms and voting machines in Gov. Tom Wolf's budget sights Gov. Wolf unveils budget: more money for public ...

There were few surprises in this year's Pennsylvania budget (other than the fact that it finished up early). We've compiled our usual list below of line items affecting low-income families and the people we serve. To see the full budget, visit the PA Office of the Budget . As you can see below, most line items that we follow stayed level or increased in funding. While the Governor's budget "zeroed out" (removed funding) from a few, all programs that we watch regained their funding in the legislature.

The Senate is expected to take up the Farm Bill this week, with a vote likely tomorrow. S. 3042 protects current SNAP benefit levels and eligibility rather than adding burdensome requirements (including additional work requirements) to the law. At the same time as SNAP is being debated in Congress, rules changes are rumored from the Administration. These changes could mean that immigrants would not be eligible for green cards if they or their children use benefits such as Medicaid, CHIP, or even the ACA marketplace - even though the immigrants in question have entered the country legally and are legally allowed to use the programs. Take Action:  Call your Senators at 202-224-3121 to share your thoughts on S. 3042.  Here's a sample script: "Hello, my name is _________ and I am a constituent of Senator __________. My zip code is __________. I am calling today in support of S. 3042, the Farm Bill, as it is currently written. Please support this bill but do not allow...

Click here to enlarge This afternoon, Governor Wolf announced the 2018-2019 budget, along with some of his policy initiatives for the year. In his budget speech , he proposed an additional $125 million for K-12 education and a new program, called Community Health Choices, designed to help seniors receive care in their communities instead of in facilities. The budget summary  also calls for an increase in the minimum wage, modernization of the Equal Pay law, and the passage of a statewide paid sick days bill. The chart pictured here shows selected line items from the Governor's budget. Basic Education, Pre-K Counts, and the Children's Health Insurance Program are among the programs set to get an increase, while Adult and Family Literacy and County Assistance Offices see a slight decrease in funding. A number of programs, including Mobile Science and Math Education, Job Training and Special Education, Regional Cancer Institutes, ALS Support Services, and the New Choices/Ne...

On Monday, Congress came to a bipartisan agreement to end the three day federal shutdown . The legislation included six years of funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). CHIP had been operating without funding since the end of September, and, without this budget agreement, states were at risk of running out of CHIP funding by March. The agreement came at a price, though. No action was taken on the Dreamers (although there was a promise made to address the issue), and, in three weeks, we may be back here again. The budget resolution passed only funds the budget through February 8, giving Congress a short window to make decisions on a long-term plan. Action Steps Ask Congress to pass a budget that invests in everyone.  Call Congress at (202) 224-3121. Here's a sample script: "My name is ___, and I live in ___'s district. I am calling today to share my feelings on the federal budget. OUr communities are relying on programs like SNAP, rental...

The latest state budget numbers were released earlier this afternoon .  This budget includes a spend number of $27.656 million, about $500,000 more than the Governor's budget earlier this year.  This budget may not be the final budget, but it gives some insight into where funding will go. The biggest news is the removal of the Human Services Block Grant, which had been under heavy scrutiny since its proposal by the Governor.  In February, Governor Corbett contended that creating a block grant would diminish the red tape counties face and provide them with savings as justification for his decision to cut 20% of the funding from the programs included. While the block grant has been removed, possibly in place of some new language around executive compensation , at least some of the budget cuts associated with the grant remain.   Several of the items covered under the grant, such as Mental Health Services and Homeless Assistance, have lower budgets than last year. U...

State Update This week, the Pennsylvania Senate released its numbers on the state budget.  In their version, the Senate restores $500 million in funding, including restoring funding for Pennsylvania's colleges to its current levels. In addition to adding higher education funding, the Senate chose to increase funding in certain health and health-related departments such as Epilepsy, Tourette's Syndrome, Autism, and various MA related programs, While overall funding increased,  The Philadelphia Inquirer   reported that attempts "to put in another $250 million for social services, child-care services, and a temporary cash assistance program for poor and disabled adults failed."   According to the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center , the Senate budget increases spending while continuing a proposed tax cut and cutting a proposed cap on the sales tax vendor discount. In response to the budget proposal, Governor Corbett's spokesman Eric Shirk said...

From our friends at CHN and the Children's Defense Fund .  On Wednesday, March 21st at 12:30 p.m. EDT, let’s stand with our children and young adults and celebrate the second anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that will provide access to health coverage for more than 95 percent of America’s children and strengthen America's health care system for everyone. Let’s create a national trend on Twitter as we share real stories of real children and young adults. Join us and let’s all be grateful that there are now fewer uninsured children in America than any time on record—thanks to the ACA!! Follow CDF on Twitter @ChildDefender and host your own Tweetup or join in the Twitter party at 1 p.m. from your desk or on-the-go through your mobile phone. Let’s stand together with our children and promise them we will never roll back the ACA health benefits children need to survive and thrive.

Today, the Governor released his proposed budget for 2012-2013.   Governor Corbett described the budget as one that includes no tax increases but that does make cuts to higher education and public welfare programs. Several pieces of the Governor's budget stand out this year: Elimination of the General Assistance (GA) Program : The proposed budget ends the GA program , which serves individuals who do not qualify for TANF but have verifiable need such as those related to disabilities, domestic violence, caring for someone sick or disabled or participating in a drug or alcohol treatment program.  Most counties offer GA recipients $205 per month.  According to Public Welfare Secretary Gary Alexander, current GA recipients will be screened to see if they qualify for federal SSI or other programs. Community Legal Services has posted a statement on the decision to eliminate GA that gives more information about the program as well as the impact they think it will have on fa...

RSVP for our Philadelphia event at http://philansab.eventbrite.com/ RSVP for our Delaware County event at http://delconsab.eventbrite.com/ Please join us on October 26! PathWays PA, a nonprofit organization serving the Greater Philadelphia region, is pleased to present the First Annual Network for Strategic Asset Building Symposium, to offer financial education and asset building in the workplace. This free Symposium will help you offer your workers strategies and tools to build financial knowledge and resources-at no cost to you! If any of these tools are right for you, PathWays PA will be happy to help you implement them in the workplace without charge. Featured national and state experts include: John Wancheck,Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, EITC Expert Holly Chase, PA Office of Financial Education Topics will include: How to find free tax preparation during tax season How to improve credit How to save money through banks/credit unions, prepaid debit cards,...

On Monday October 18, Senator Bob Casey and other dignitaries spoke with students at Philadelphia’s Horace Furness High School to congratulate them on high enrollment in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) . After a few words from Principal Timothy McKenna on Furness’ increasing achievement and attendance levels and an enthusiastic welcome from Furness High’s cheerleaders, Senator Casey issued a challenge to everyone in the room to promote CHIP among family and friends so that soon every child will have affordable health care. According to Casey, with health care, children can participate fully in activities and sports, be more attentive in school, and get better more quickly when illness or injury arises. US Secretary for Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius , a member of President Obama’s Cabinet and former governor of Kansas, echoed Senator Casey’s call to connect 100% of kids with health care coverage, and expressed a commitment to keep children healthy to enco...

Thanks to @Capitol_Ideas for sending out the budget line items ! Selected items are below: The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center and others have reported that the final budget includes the following cuts: 7.5 percent cut ($15.3 million) to Executive Offices 11.7 percent cut ($7.9 million) to agriculture programs 10 percent cut ($9.2 million) to the Department of Labor and Industry 9.2 percent cut ($14.6 million) to the Department of Environmental Protection 11 percent cut ($10.2 million) to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources 9.1 percent cut ($5.5 million) to library funding

Public Forum on Earned Sick Time Thank you to everyone who came out to the Public Forum on Earned Sick Time sponsored by PathWays PA, WOMEN’S WAY, The United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, and the Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces! The campaign for paid sick days got a boost as more than forty people came to the Central Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library to learn about the need for earned sick time and to tell their stories. Some important facts discussed include that: 40 percent of all private sector workers lack access to job-protected earned sick time. Among food service workers and child care workers, 73 percent lack any access to earned sick time. 46 percent of all workers lack earned sick time. A diverse group of panel members agreed that employees should not need to work sick. The owner of a child care center explained how she saved money by providing the opportunity for workers to earn sick time, since one sick worker at home was less costly...

Budget Updates State Budget Now that the House and Senate have completed their budget hearings, the House Appropriations Committee has advanced a bill containing the Governor’s proposed budget . Representatives will then have time to file amendments to the bill, which are due by March 15. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is preparing to hold a vote on the state budget bill and related legislation by the end of this month. Philadelphia Budget Last week Mayor Nutter delivered his budget proposal to City Council. The City of Philadelphia is facing a $120 to $150 million deficit for coming fiscal year and a $500 to $700 million deficit over the next five years. While last year the city faced a deficit by cutting services, this year the mayor is looking at other ways to make ends meet. Below are some of the things the Mayor proposed to raise revenue: The “ Keep Philly Clean ” Service Fee - The fee will cost the average property owner $5.77/week or $300/year...

Update State Budget While the General Assembly is wrapping up hearings on the Governor’s budget proposal , February has proved to be another bad month for revenue collections for the General Fund. Revenue is falling short of projections by $102 million . Pennsylvania’s current overall shortfall is $477 million. The Governor had projected a shortfall of $525 million in his proposal. With four more months in the fiscal year, it is likely the shortfall will be much more than that. In order to balance the books, the Administration may have to make more budget cuts to the current (2009-2010) budget. Philadelphia Budget Mayor Nutter is scheduled to give his budget address at 10:00 AM on March 4, 2010, in City Hall Room 400. With a deficit of $125 to $150 million , it is likely the Mayor will be proposing major cuts to programs and funding. Last year the city dealt with a deficit through the delay of tax reductions; cuts to pools, libraries, and the Fire Departments; a te...

Budget Update Yesterday, Governor Rendell announced his budget proposal for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. The deficit for the fiscal year is $525 million (there was a $2 billion deficit last year). In the FY 2010-2011 budget, the Governor is calling for overall spending of $26.3 billion. His budget maintains cuts from last year and does not create any new programs. The Governor also stated his commitment to having a budget signed by the constitutionally mandated deadline of June 30th - unlike last year's budget, which was passed 101 days late. Under the proposal: Adult and Family Literacy will receive funding of $17,510,000 (which matches their current funding under the budget freeze) Child Care Assistance will receive $198,682,000 in funding (an increase of $535,000) Children's Health Insurance will receive $100,375,000 in funding (an increase of $3,263,000, enough to cover approximately 10,300 more children) Community Colleges will receive $214, 217,000 (level funding from th...