PathWays PA Policy Blog

The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center will host their annual Budget Summit on February 20th at the Hilton Hotel in Harrisburg, PA to discuss the upcoming state budget negotiations and Governor Corbett's proposed funding levels. Issues that will be discussed include: Budget deficit in 2014 Education funding Human services funding A list of speakers will follow as the date of the event nears. Register Here

The House and Senate approved a 2013-14 budget and the Governor signed it just after 10PM Sunday night. The $28.375 billion plan modestly increases basic education funding, but 81% of the classroom cuts enacted two years ago remain intact. Funding for prisons is increased, and a 10% funding cut enacted last year to county human services remains. The bill only deals with appropriations in the budget. Other related issues, such as whether lawmakers will delay a planned a corporate tax cut next year, will be addressed in related bills that are still being negotiated.  Click here for a complete list of department funded programs.

20% of the child care subsidy funding has been cut over the last two years. Without additional funding, thousands of low-income parents have no opportunity to afford adequate child care. Currently, the waiting list for subsidized child care is at more than 8,000 children waiting eight months or more. The full increase in funding would reduce the waiting list for quality child care by 1,400 children.  Additional funds will also ensure more at-risk children can participate in high-quality child care programs through Keystone STARS. Currently, only 20% of children in subsidized child care attend the highest quality STAR 3 and 4 provider. The Senate will take up the budget this week. Ask them to restore $3 million to the child care services appropriation.

Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) will rally at the Harrisburg Capitol tomorrow at 1PM to ask the Legislature to fund public schools. PCCY is asking for an additional $120 million for Philadelphia public schools in order to avoid enacting the "doomsday budget" that the School Reform Commission (SRC) passed earlier this month. Click here to get on the bus or call Shanee Garner at PCCY 215-563-5848 x36 ( shaneeg@pccy.org ) for more information. If you can't make it tomorrow, contact your elected officials and ask for their support!

PathWays PA, and other members of the Better Choices for Better Choices for Pennsylvania Coalition will hold a media event on Friday to send a clear message to state legislators: we need to reinvest in our schools and communities - we can't afford new tax cuts this year. Friday, June 21 at 11 AM Delaware County Courthouse 201 W. Front St., Media Please RSVP to Kate Atkins at Atkins@pennbpc.org , and please share this invitation widely. For more information about this effort please visit www.betterchoicesforPA.com .

The Better Choices for PA Coalition's annual "Pie Day" launch event is tomorrow, March 12th in Harrisburg. We will call on the legislature to "grow the budget pie" by holding off on new tax cuts until they have enacted robust tax reform that closes corporate loopholes, increases accountability, and protects public investments in our schools and communities and the infrastructure needed for long-term economic growth. Meet at 10:30am in the main rotunda to deliver miniature pies, and our message, to every legislator, and then reconvene in the main rotunda for a 1:30pm press conference. RSVP to Kate Atkins at the PA Budget and Policy Center: atkins@pennbpc.org

On Friday, April 5 beginning at 8:30AM, the Bucks County Women's Advocacy Coalition and the Buxmont Unitarian Universalist Fellowship invite you to engage coalition partners, legislators, and citizens in a dialogue that will clarify the budget discussions taking place throughout our state and the nation and shed light on the impact of budgetary decisions on the women and families of Bucks County. We look forward to seeing at BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Fellowship located at 2040 Street Road (Routes 611 and 132), Warrington, PA. Please RSVP by Friday, March 22.