Monthly Archives: June 2011

Urge Your Representative and House Leadership to Reject Bill that Endangers PA’s Most Vulnerable

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Sandy Strauss

Apologies for multiple alerts this week, but legislators need to hear from us today. This legislation is appalling—members of the General Assembly are abdicating their responsibility to ensure the welfare of all Pennsylvanians by handing over complete authority to one … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Economic Justice, families, Health Care, Human Needs, jobs, PA Budget, seniors, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

School Vouchers, Protecting Vulnerable at the Federal Level

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Sandy Strauss

The Pennsylvania Senate approved the budget negotiated among the two General Assembly chambers and the governor yesterday (June 28—see link at end of message). They are still seeking to include school voucher legislation in the package. This budget will cause … Continue reading →

Posted in Economic Justice, Education, federal budget, Health Care, Human Needs, PA Budget, Take Action | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

PA Senate Approves $27.2 Billion State Budget

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Sandy Strauss

From the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (http://www.pennbpc.org):   A highlight of major program cuts and funding levels:   State legislative leaders and Governor Tom Corbett agreed on a 2011-12 state budget deal this week, and on Tuesday, the state … Continue reading →

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Act Now to Protect Medicaid and Medicare

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Sandy Strauss

From Faithful Reform in Health Care (http://www.faithfulreform.org):   Contact the President & your Members of Congress now at http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1973/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=7085!   Members of Congress of BOTH parties are considering a major restructuring of or cuts to Medicaid and Medicare as part … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care, Take Action | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Urge the White House to Protect SNAP/Food Stamp and Other Safety Net Programs During Debt-Ceiling Negotiations

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Sandy Strauss

From the Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center (http://www.pahunger.org/):   Vice President Biden and a bi-partisan group of Congressional leaders had been negotiating a debt-ceiling/deficit reduction plan and hoped to reach an agreement by July 1, when these negotiations broke down last … Continue reading →

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Medicaid and Medicare in the News—Information & Resources

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Sandy Strauss

From Faithful Reform in Health Care (http://www.faithfulreform.org):   We know that our nation’s fiscal problems need to be addressed, and that creating a sustainable future for Medicaid is a rightful part of that conversation. The disagreement rests in ideological divisions … Continue reading →

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Act Now to Protect Vulnerable Persons in a Deficit Reduction Deal

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Sandy Strauss

From the Coalition on Human Needs (http://www.chn.org):   Deficit reduction deals should take cuts to programs for low- and moderate-income people off the table.  President Obama is scheduled to meet with Senate leaders today (June 28) to move a deal … Continue reading →

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Urge State Legislators to Reject Marcellus Shale Fee that Lets Drillers Off the Hook

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Sandy Strauss

From Better Choices for Pennsylvania (http://betterchoicesforpa.com/default.aspx):   The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is likely to vote today on a new Marcellus Shale drilling fee plan. This one would allow the counties that host drilling activities to assess a fee locally. … Continue reading →

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Details Emerging on PA Budget Deal—Learn More, Take Action

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Sandy Strauss

From Better Choices for Pennsylvania (http://betterchoicesforpa.com/default.aspx):   Details are emerging on the 2011-12 state budget deal recently reached by Pennsylvania’s legislative leaders and Governor Tom Corbett.   Much like earlier proposals, this budget plan includes deep cuts to education, health … Continue reading →

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Report: Public Education is ‘Best Investment’ for Pennsylvania

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Sandy Strauss

From the Education Law Center (http://www.elc-pa.org):   The Education Law Center and Penn State University Professor Dana Mitra, Ph.D., have together released a report entitled “Pennsylvania’s Best Investment: The Social and Economic Benefits of Public Education,” which updates a 2008 … Continue reading →

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