The continued growth in public welfare spending is unsustainable. The federal government is responsible for much of the welfare system, but states can adopt reforms that preserve welfare resources for the most vulnerable. By enacting reforms that promote work and independence, Pennsylvania can right-size state welfare spending and help more Pennsylvanians get back on their feet. Taxpayers deserve a welfare system that compliments a strong economy.

Healthcare

Arkansas Latest to Demonstrate Power of Work Over Poverty

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 17, 2019

Once again, incomes are rising, tax revenue is up, and welfare enrollment is shrinking thanks to work requirements. A recent analysis from the Foundation for Government Accountability finds Arkansas’s…

Media

Read More: Arkansas Latest to Demonstrate Power of Work Over Poverty

Healthcare

Federal Food Stamp Fix Good Fit for Pa.

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 3, 2019

Jobs and money form the foundation of many a New Year’s resolution. Now, due to proposed federal SNAP (food stamp) changes, hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians could experience a brighter…

Media

Read More: Federal Food Stamp Fix Good Fit for Pa.

Taxes & Economy

Trump Administration’s Food Stamp Changes Could Affect 59 Pa. Counties

  • December 20, 2018

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced plans to strengthen existing work requirements for work-capable adults in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps). The rule change…

Press Release

Read More: Trump Administration’s Food Stamp Changes Could Affect 59 Pa. Counties

Taxes & Economy

Bureaucrats are Keeping Pennsylvanians Dependent on Food Stamps

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 13, 2018

Great things are happening in our economy, including more job opportunities and rising incomes. Yet, Pennsylvania is continuing to see near-record food stamp enrollment. The Census Bureau's newly-released American…

Media

Read More: Bureaucrats are Keeping Pennsylvanians Dependent on Food Stamps

Healthcare

Welfare Program Restarts with No Proof of Poverty Alleviation & No Budget

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 3, 2018

After a six-year hiatus, Pennsylvania's General Assistance program is back in operation…without a budget. The Wolf administration's unilateral decision to resurrect a program, without identifying a funding source, is symbolic…

Media

Read More: Welfare Program Restarts with No Proof of Poverty Alleviation & No Budget

Criminal Justice Reform

Three Bills to Help Vulnerable Pennsylvanians Await Signature

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 22, 2018

Last week we celebrated passage of a transformative welfare reform bill, which Governor Wolf vetoed late Friday afternoon. But it wasn't the only good policy that cleared both chambers…

Media

Read More: Three Bills to Help Vulnerable Pennsylvanians Await Signature

Healthcare

Wolf Vetoes Opportunity for Healthy Adults to Escape Poverty

  • October 19, 2018

October 19, 2018, Harrisburg, Pa.—Late this afternoon, Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed HB 2138, a bold anti-poverty bill aimed at helping Pennsylvanians achieve independence. The legislation would have incentivized healthy,…

Press Release

Read More: Wolf Vetoes Opportunity for Healthy Adults to Escape Poverty

Healthcare

Pa. Legislature Sends Landmark Anti-Poverty Reform to Gov. Wolf

  • October 18, 2018

October 17, 2018, Harrisburg, Pa.—Today, the Pennsylvania Legislature sent a landmark anti-poverty bill to Governor Wolf’s desk. HB 2138 will help healthy, childless adults enrolled in Medicaid move from…

Press Release

Read More: Pa. Legislature Sends Landmark Anti-Poverty Reform to Gov. Wolf

Welfare

Welfare Reform is On the Cusp

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 16, 2018

Major welfare reform is nearing the governor’s desk. Three bills, two in the Senate and one in House, contain significant improvements to our human service programs. SB 6 protects…

Media

Read More: Welfare Reform is On the Cusp

Criminal Justice Reform

Unlocking Pennsylvanians’ Potential

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 11, 2018

Pennsylvania’s poverty rate remains far too high. Employers can’t find workers with technical skills, and the commonwealth continues to lead the northeast in incarcerating our citizens. One organization is…

Media

Read More: Unlocking Pennsylvanians’ Potential

State Budget

Refocus on Government Assistance that Transforms Lives for Good

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 20, 2018

Six years ago, the Pennsylvania legislature ended the General Assistance program, a monthly cash benefit to disabled adults. In that same bill, Pennsylvania strengthened food stamp work requirements (later rolled…

Media

Read More: Refocus on Government Assistance that Transforms Lives for Good

Criminal Justice Reform

Spending Trends & Policy Developments Under Gov. Wolf

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 31, 2018

In the last four years Pennsylvania has experienced rapid state spending growth. On the plus side, constant tax hike proposals have been largely rejected and policies like pension reform, school…

Memo

Read More: Spending Trends & Policy Developments Under Gov. Wolf

Criminal Justice Reform

Another Step Towards Reducing Barriers to Work

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 23, 2018

Pennsylvania licenses over 250 occupations, creating unnecessary bureaucracy and obstacles to good paying jobs. Across the country states like Arizona, Michigan, Rhode Island, and Nebraska are eliminating licensure requirements…

Media

Read More: Another Step Towards Reducing Barriers to Work

Healthcare

Hidden Human Services Spending

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 27, 2018

What’s the main driver of spending in Harrisburg? It’s not education. The main driver of costs is the Department of Human Services, which includes Medicaid, child services, nursing home care…

Media

Read More: Hidden Human Services Spending

State Budget

Time for Welfare Work Requirements

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 13, 2018

Yesterday, welfare work requirement bills HB 2138 and HB 1659 moved out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. This move ensures welfare reform will be a focus…

Media

Read More: Time for Welfare Work Requirements

Taxes & Economy

A Career for Life: Toni’s Work Story

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 6, 2018

DuBois resident Toni Prescott Flanders knows the value of hard work. As a teenager she worked alongside her mom, who owned a restaurant. But Toni wanted more than a job.

Media

Read More: A Career for Life: Toni’s Work Story

Healthcare

More than a Paycheck: Amanda’s Work Story

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 30, 2018

A mother of four, Amanda Zernell worked odd jobs – as a certified nurse assistant at minimum wage and later at Sears – to help support her family. But after…

Media

Read More: More than a Paycheck: Amanda’s Work Story

Healthcare

A Future for My Kids and Me

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 10, 2018

Megan Spaulding graduated from the Brockway Center for Arts and Technology Medical Assistant program two years ago. This single mom turned medical professional describes her new found career as “life-changing.”…

Media

Read More: A Future for My Kids and Me

Healthcare

Medicaid is Broken, Work Requirements Can Help

  • Rep. Matt Dowling
  • May 7, 2018

Pennsylvanians deserve every opportunity to live fulfilling, prosperous lives. But too often, government programs end up holding back our friends and neighbors by discouraging them from pursuing independence.

Commentary

Read More: Medicaid is Broken, Work Requirements Can Help

Taxes & Economy

The Path to Prosperity

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 2, 2018

Last month we featured the story of Diane, a hardworking medical assistant in Clearfield County and graduate of the Brockway Center for Arts and Technology (BCAT) medical assistant…

Media

Read More: The Path to Prosperity