PathWays PA Policy Blog

From our friends at The Pennsylvania Fund for Workforce Solutions The Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously passed SB 552, the Industry Partnerships bill, today. Since the bill was amended in the House, it now returns to the Senate. The bill will be referred to the Senate Rules Committee and then reported to the full Senate for an up or down vote. Senator Brubaker will continue his leadership in moving his bill through the Senate, but you can help by contacting members of the Rules Committee and advising them that they should support SB 552 as amended in the House. We are almost there! Please help get SB 552 passed in the Senate so that we can get it to the Governor's desk. Send an e-mail to members of the Senate Rules Committee to let them know that a YES vote on SB 552 is essential.

What a week in Harrisburg! The state's fiscal year ends today, but we are not done yet! We need your voice on a couple of key issues over the next two days. 1- Are you frustrated with what happened with the State Budget? Come to a Community Budget Veto on Friday ! 2- Respond to Voter Suppression Vote by Sending Your Rep an Email today 3- Help Us Stop a Bill Giving DPW Authority to Cut Benefits With No Public Input Are You Mad About the State Budget? Join us for a Community Veto of the PA budget on Friday. This week, the PA legislature passed a budget that cuts funding for services, education & health care, without raising a dime of new revenue from the drilling of natural gas in the Marcellus Shale, or from the closing of corporate tax loopholes. Join community allies in a symbolic community veto of a budget that rewards a few while it harms our children and our communities. Governor Corbett isn't gonna veto that budget--but we are! WHEN: Friday, July 1 · 12:...

As we close the books on this fiscal year, we are finishing one of most successful years from a services and advocacy standpoint. While our programs have gained local, statewide, and national recognition, the recession continues to affect our bottom line. During these economic times, we are asking you to make a small contribution: $33, or $1 for every year of service we have provided to women, children, and families in the Greater Philadelphia area. Your support will help PathWays PA to provide the high quality services that continued to be recognized nationally for their excellence. In the past year, PathWays PA has again received accreditation from the National Council on Accreditation for our work with children and in child welfare. Our child welfare programs have gained high marks with the Department of Human Services, while our EARN Center has very successfully assisted TANF clients in taking the next step to self-sufficiency. Our Transitional Living Program (...

Please make calls today or tomorrow to your state representative and to Rep. Turzai, the House Majority Leader, and Rep. Dermody, the House Minority Leader. Ask them to vote NO on HB 960. It is expected to be voted on quickly after its passage in the PA Senate today. HB 960 would give the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) unbridled power. DPW would have the authority to make drastic cuts affecting Medical Assistance, SNAP (food stamps), child care, welfare-to-work, and cash assistance programs, without proper legislative oversight, or public comment. The cuts would hurt Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable seniors, women, children, victims of domestic violence and people with disabilities. In sum, the amendment would slash Pennsylvania’s safety net – without proper consideration by the General Assembly. Representative Turzai can be reached at 717-772-9943 or mturzai@pahousegop.com . Representative Dermody can be reached at 717-787-3566 or fdermody@pahouse.net . Contact ...

State Budget Update Pa. Senate Approves $27.2 Billion State Budget State legislative leaders and Governor Tom Corbett agreed on a 2011-12 state budget deal this week, and yesterday, the state Senate approved. The bill heads to the House of Representatives next. It would spend just $27.2 billion, down $962 million, or 3.4%, from the 2010-11 budget. Below is a highlight of funding levels as put together by the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center. F or full funding details see the chart put together by the Budget and Policy Center . Workforce Development   Despite the tough economy, many programs that help people prepare for and find good jobs are being cut. Industry Partnership funding, which at one point was completely cut out of the budget, will receive $1,613,000, a decrease of $32,000. Keeping Industry Partnerships funded is a victory for workforce development, but full funding for this important program is clearly preferable. Adult and Family Literacy funding...

At around 2 PM yesterday, the Mayor announced he would be holding a press conference later in the afternoon to discuss the paid sick days bill at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.  So it was no great shock when, at 4:45 (after unsuccessful attempts in the Chamber offices to have Coalition members leave the premises), the mayor vetoed the bill behind closed doors. Despite this veto, PathWays PA and the Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces will continue working with City Council to do everything possible to support the 71 percent of Philadelphians who want paid sick days and the 210,000 workers (and their families) who need them.  Please continue to visit the Coalition's website , post on the Facebook page , and let us know what you are thinking via Twitter .  We will certainly be doing the same! Below are some articles from the media on the veto. June 29, 2011 - Philly Mayor’s Veto Won’t Halt Momentum for Paid Sick Days June 29, 2011 - N...

From our friends at the SEPA Budget Coalition . There is still time to push for alternatives to these devastating cuts. Tonight, Tuesday, June 28th, 5pm - 8pm, and Tomorrow night, Wednesday, June 29th, 5pm-8pm Location: High-tech phone bank trailer, 455 North Fifth Street, btwn Spring Garden and Callowhill. (Look for a large purple trailer in the parking lot of the SEIU Local 1201 building. This facility is air-conditioned. It is not wheelchair accessible.) Please RSVP to sepabudget@gmail.com . For more information, contact Kate Atkins at (215) 563-5848 x16 or (201) 344-3909 (cell).