HARRISBURG, October 31, 2017 — A bipartisan group of state lawmakers and Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel applauded the passage of legislation to establish a public charitable trust to aid children impacted by the prison system and reverse the direction of youth who may be on a path leading to incarceration in Pennsylvania.
The measure, authored by state Sens. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery), Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Richard Alloway (R-Adams/Cumberland/ Franklin/York) creates the “First Chance Trust Fund.” The fund will be used to create scholarships and provide grants to programs that benefit children who live in areas with high dropout rates, high incarceration rates and high crime rates.
Initially introduced as Senate Bill 790, the language from the bill was inserted into the Fiscal Code of the 2017-18 state budget, which passed in both chambers of the General Assembly last week and was signed into law by the governor.
“The fund, which would be the first of its kind in the country, will enable youth who are facing challenges to access important programs and educational opportunities that will give them a sense of stability and belonging,” Sen. Hughes said. “This is a solid investment in our children, our community and our justice system and I’m thrilled that it has received bipartisan support.”
The fund will be administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and will be paid for by private, tax‐deductible donations and a 1 percent surcharge on vendors that have a contract with the Department of Corrections exceeding $5 million. Other Pennsylvania agencies will also have the option to include a similar provision in their contracts. It does not require the use of taxpayer dollars.
“It is imperative that we look for ways to provide an alternative path for our children who are at a higher risk of dropping out of school or being incarcerated,” Sen. Browne said. “The First Chance Trust Fund provides exactly that avenue to enable Pennsylvania’s most at-risk young people access to programs, services and scholarships that help ensure they succeed both in school and later in life.”
“Providing program funding to keep children engaged and in the classroom is essential to ensuring they do not become justice-involved later in life,” said Secretary Wetzel. “This first-of-its-kind fund will invest significant dollars into programming with the potential to make a life-changing difference for at-risk young people.”
Children continue to enter the justice system at alarming rates. Approximately 65 percent of Pennsylvania state inmates have at least one child, according to the Department of Corrections.
The absence — which some psychologists have compared to the death of a parent — through the formative years can have deleterious effects on a child. Dealing with the emotional, social and economic consequences of that loss can trigger behavioral problems, lead to trouble in school and the possibility of dropping out and continuing the cycle of crime.
“The First Chance Trust Fund was one of the top priorities of mine and the Senate Democratic Caucus in this entire budget process, and we are so pleased to have taken it across the finish line,” said Sen. Costa, the Senate Democratic Leader. “There are 81,000 children in Pennsylvania with at least one parent currently incarcerated; we cannot allow them to fall through the cracks. They already face an uphill battle, growing up without their parents, and the First Chance Trust Fund is something very simple, very common-sense that we can do.”
Initially, the trust fund is anticipated to generate $500,000 to $1 million on an annual basis. The fund would be targeted to regions that have statistically higher high school dropout rates, high risks of incarceration and high crime rates.
“The First Chance Trust Fund will help protect Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable youth from becoming innocent casualties of mass incarceration. We know that dealing with the emotional, social and economic consequences of incarceration can trigger behavioral problems, lead to trouble in school and the possibility of dropping out and continue the cycle of crime,” said state Rep. Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia). “I’m thrilled and grateful for the support this legislation received from both chambers across party lines. This is not just a wise investment in our most marginalized communities, it is an innovative way to build community wealth while constricting the school-to-prison pipeline.”
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Media Contacts:
Elizabeth Rementer (Sen. Hughes): 717-787-5166 elizabeth.rementer@pasenate.com
Matt Moyer (Sen. Browne): 717-787-1349 mmoyer@pasen.gov
Brittany Crampsie (Sen. Costa): 717-712-3480 Brittany.Crampsie@pasenate.com
Ben Turner (Rep. Rabb): 717-787-7895 bturner@pahouse.net
Amy Worden (DOC Sec. Wetzel): 717-728-4026 aworden@pa.gov
HARRISBURG, October 18, 2017 — State Senate Democrats today blasted President Trump’s latest actions regarding the Affordable Care Act in Pennsylvania and detailed the debilitating impact on Pennsylvanians that his latest acts will have on working families.
The president ordered the suspension of an estimated $7 billion in cost-sharing reduction payments that are designed to help lower- and middle-income Americans. He also moved to restructure the insurance market by opening the door to low-cost, high-deductible minimal coverage policies that offer little protection for consumers.
As a result, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department announced this week that individual and small group rates under the Affordable Care Act will increase by an average 30.6 percent due to President Trump’s decision to discontinue cost-sharing reduction payments to insurers.
In Pennsylvania, 439,000 individuals received health care through the exchanges. More than 321,000 individuals received a tax credit, while 227,304 individuals received cost sharing reduction payments.
At a Capitol news conference today, Senate Democrats and House Democratic Caucus Chair Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) illustrated how the president’s actions will hurt working families. They pointed out that a two-income family of four that earns $100,000 per year and purchases health insurance through the insurance exchange will have a $327 monthly premium increase and a yearly spike of $3,924 as a result of Trump’s actions.
“People are going to suffer so that President Trump can score political points with those like him who want to dismantle Obamacare,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny). “It is our obligation to take steps to not allow him to destroy this landmark health care law, which has helped a million Pennsylvanians get coverage and has created thousands of family-sustaining jobs in the health care industry.”
State lawmakers met yesterday with the Pennsylvania Insurance Department and four major health coverage providers to discuss steps to mitigate the pain on consumers, many of whom are working class and job creators, according to state Sen. Sharif Street, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.
“Trump’s actions are going to hit middle class families, small business owners and entrepreneurs the hardest,” said Street (D-Philadelphia). “These are individuals who make our economy grow and many of them voted for Trump because he’s a businessman and said he would look out for them, but he’s turned his back on them.”
Street also warned that Trump’s efforts to roll back an Obama Administration ruling on types of employers that can form and offer “Association Health Plans” (AHP) under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) will destabilize the insurance market for everyone and loosen regulations, which will make it more difficult for the government to protect Pennsylvanians.
“It’s our job as elected officials to protect Pennsylvanians’ rights. This plan will take away our ability to do that effectively and will destabilize the market, which will impact us all,” Street said.
Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) noted that Pennsylvania Senate Democrats have long fought for innovative and comprehensive health care programs, including the CHIP program, which Pennsylvania was the first state to implement.
“Health care is a right, not a privilege for those who have the money to pay for it. Senate Democrats have driven every advance in health care because we recognize that everyone deserves access to quality, affordable health coverage,” said Hughes. “President Trump is repeatedly attempting to destroy the lives of citizens, especially those who voted for him, by destroying CHIP, rolling back reproductive support, reducing the amount of time that folks can enroll in the Affordable Care Act, and pulling his support from the latest compromise on health care subsidies.”
State Sen. Art Haywood (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) said the recent roll back of comprehensive reproductive health care “is wrong,” noting that religious policy should not dictate public policy.
“Our public policy must be based on a set of values that accommodate the diversity of this nation, not a set of religious conditions that are based upon the faith and membership of a small organization. As a Christian, I am offended by the changes in policy that eliminate access to contraceptive care for individuals because of the faith commitment of their employer,” said Haywood. “Health care is a human right. Trump’s decision to reduce support to help low- and middle-income receive coverage is immoral. It is immoral to put families in a position where they have to pay thousands of dollars more per year for life-sustaining health coverage.”
Also attending today’s press conference were state Sens. Larry Farnese (D-Philadelphia) and Tina Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia).
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Harrisburg – October 13, 2017 – Senator Costa’s office announced today that Angels’ Place Inc. located in Pittsburgh has been awarded the Seal of Excellence by the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO).
“I want to congratulate the Board and staff of Angels’ Place Inc. for this well-deserved recognition. Their work for mothers in the Pittsburgh community is awe-inspiring,” said Democratic Leader Senator Jay Costa. “They’re ensuring that young mothers are able to work, go to school, and raise their children. I’m glad a statewide organization has taken note of their huge contribution to Pittsburgh.”
Each year, nearly 600 Pittsburgh women under the age of 19 give birth. Teen mothers are statistically unlikely to complete high school, but Angels’ Place Inc. has filled a support void for them. They offer accredited child care at three locations, provide tutoring, support groups, counseling, and classes in parenting, nutrition, child safety and life skills.
The Seal of Excellence is granted to well-managed, responsibly governed organizations that deserve the public’s trust. Angels’ Place Inc. is one of more than 50 organizations in the Commonwealth to earn this distinction.
The program consists of six Guiding Principles and 67 Standards, a vast amount of educational resources and trainings and a voluntary certification program. The Guiding Principles include Mission, Strategy and Evaluation, Leadership: Board, Staff and Volunteers, Legal Compliance and Ethics, Finance and Operations, Resource Development and Public Awareness, Engagement and Advocacy.
Some of the areas reviewed as part of the evaluation include: how the board conducts itself, how conflicts of interest are avoided and disclosed, assurance of written and followed internal control and many of areas of management. The Standards also mandate that organizations evaluate their programs and are accountable to their donors.
“As much as we want to, and as much as we try – government is not able to provide all of the resources that we know our communities need. Nonprofit organizations fill many of the gaps that we leave. Angels’ Place is one such organization; and not only do they fulfill their mission, PANO has acknowledged their exception leadership, compliance, ethics and advocacy,” said Senator Costa.
The PA Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO) is located in Harrisburg and represents over 900 organizations. The Association is committed to serving and strengthening nonprofits. PANO has adopted these Standards for Excellence to promote ethical practices and accountability in nonprofits throughout the state.
For more information about the Standards for Excellence program or to request a copy of the Standards, contact PANO directly at (717) 236-8584 or visit http://www.pano.org/Standards-For-Excellence/
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Harrisburg – September 20, 2017 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) released the following statement today concerning the downgrade of Pennsylvania’s credit rating by S & P Global Ratings due to failure to adopt a revenue plan with sufficient recurring revenues to balance the state’s budget.
Instead, House Republicans voted to approved a plan that included $630 million in special fund transfers, which resulted directly in this credit downgrade.
Costa’s statement follows:
“S & P took a step that many have been predicting would come for months, absent concerted action on a responsible and sustainable budget.
“Given the House Republicans’ inaction for months followed by the passage of an irresponsible plan, it is not surprising that Pennsylvania’s credit rating was downgraded. Their plan was revenue deficient and would fail to put Pennsylvania on solid financial footing.
“After review of the House Republican plan – including the $630 million in fund transfers – S & P took decisive action to downgrade our credit rating.
“The Senate passed a reasonable plan that, if enacted, would have avoided a credit downgrade. The action today was predictable. We already know that past downgrades are costing the state tens of millions of dollars annually in additional interest payments, and this downgrade will only add more.
“All parties need to return to the bargaining table and work through details of a plan that will sustain our budgetary needs.”
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Senate Democrats have been in the forefront of efforts to address exposure to lead
Harrisburg – Sept. 1, 2017 – State Sen. Vincent J. Hughes and Senate Democrats applauded Gov. Tom Wolf’s support of universal testing of children under the age of 2 to determine their risk of lead poisoning.
The governor has urged the state Department of Health to work collaboratively with the General Assembly and community partners on crafting legislation to compel testing of children under the age of 2 for lead exposure.
Hughes (D-Philadelphia), along with several Senate Democrats, including Sens. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny), Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) Judy Schwank (D-Berks), John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) and Art Haywood (D-Philadelphia) have been leaders in the effort to combat lead poisoning.
Senate Democrats have offered a comprehensive legislative package to help children, day care centers and home buyers deal with the threat of lead poisoning. Senate Resolution 33, which called for a task force to study lead exposure, was approved by the Senate in early June.
“The governor’s call for universal lead testing of children under the age of 2 is a huge step forward,” Hughes said. “Finding out the depth of the problem will enable us to better design a more effective strategy to deal with lead and help prevent problems associated with lead.”
According to the Department of Health, 28 percent of children in Pennsylvania under 2 years of age were tested for lead in 2015. Several years ago, lead seeping into Flint, Michigan’s public water system caused a devastating health crisis and spurred governments to examine the levels of lead exposure. Eighteen Pennsylvania cities tested higher than Flint for elevated blood lead levels.
Senate Democrats first introduced a comprehensive package of measures dealing with lead in 2016 following the Flint crisis. The legislative package included five bills that would establish a task force to study the issue and account for the age of the state’s housing stock, pipelines and school buildings; require school buildings to be tested for lead; require the licensing of lead testing centers; require property sales agreements to include an option for water testing for lead; and create a “Superfund for Lead Abatement” that would help pay lead remediation costs.
“We can do better and protect children and families from lead poisoning,” Hughes said. “The governor’s support is key to our success in addressing lead in our communities, homes and schools.
“My Senate Democratic colleagues and I are ready to move aggressively on legislation that gets to the root cause of the problem.”
Information about the incidence of lead exposure would enable families to access available services, Hughes said.
In December 2016, Hughes announced that $125,000 in state grant dollars were available to help Philadelphia deal with lead issues.
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Harrisburg – July 19, 2017 – State Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Representative Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) today issued the following statement in reaction to the House Republican leadership’s continuing refusal to call the House into session to work toward closure on the 2017-18 budget:
“The House last met over a week ago without completing the work on revenue needed to finalize the state budget. Republican Speaker Mike Turzai has not advised lawmakers of when the House might reconvene.
“This ongoing failure to finish our work on the budget means the state-related schools – the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State, Temple University and Lincoln University are in danger of not receiving any state appropriations this year. In addition, the University of Pennsylvania’s Veterinary School is unfunded.
“It’s disturbing that we have hit late July and still do not have a finished 2017-18 fiscal year revenue plan. Four parties in the budget talks have been around the table working toward an agreement, but consistently the House Republicans have refused to engage.
“This bizarre situation is unconscionable. We have an incomplete budget and Pennsylvania families are wondering what happens next, especially those families preparing to send their children to college in the next few weeks. Unfortunately, these families and our state-related universities are being used as budget pawns by the House Republicans.
“No one wins in this game House Republicans are trying to play. Holding university money hostage hurts students, their families and the communities that depend on them. It’s time for House Republicans to stop playing around and return to Harrisburg to finish the job we are obligated to do.”
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