HEARD ON THE HILL / IN CITY HALL: Hughes Slams Republicans’ Tying Ed Funds To LCB

FROM LEFT, State Sen. John Sabatina, prime sponsor of organ-transplant bill; Michael Merriman, participant in SpArc Phila. programs; State Rep. Tom Murt, co-sponsor of house bill; and seated from left, Amelia and Chrissy Rivera, responsible for New Jersey’s Amelia’s Law; and Sabra Townsend, adult advocacy director of The Arc of Phila. Photo by Bonnie Squires

COUNCILMAN Denny O’Brien, long-time advocate for citizens with disabilities, was speaker at ceremony outside City Hall which commemorated 25th anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act. It attracted hundreds of people who advocate for more access and jobs for people with physical and intellectual disabilities. Photo by Bonnie Squires

Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-W. Phila.) released the following statement in response to Pennsylvania House Speaker Mike Turzai’s recent comments on state budget negotiations:

“I am disappointed by recent comments made by Turzai, who once again tried to link the issue of education funding to the privatization of our highly profitable state liquor-store system.

“Republicans refuse to seriously address education funding or property-tax relief, two of the most-important issues. We know test scores are dropping, critical educational programs are being cut, and over 20,000 public-school employees have been laid off across the state. It’s unacceptable to hold our schoolchildren hostage for an ideological agenda that is a bad deal for the people of Pennsylvania. Republicans simply cannot run from the basic fact that education funding is the top priority for the people of Pennsylvania.

“It’s also a complete fantasy that there are Democratic votes in the Senate to override Governor Wolf’s veto of the phony Republican budget. Senate Democrats stand united to fight for a state budget that fully funds the needs of Pennsylvania, including public education. The Republican budget fails that test by only providing $8 million in additional funding for public schools.

“It’s time for Republicans to come back to the negotiating table and start talking compromise. Together, we can find a path to a state budget that addresses the many needs of Pennsylvania in a way that works for the entire Commonwealth. However, that agreement must include significant new dollars for public education to win any Democratic votes.”

Hughes is the Democratic Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Sabatina Urges Senate Preserve Veterans’ Bonus

State Sen. John Sabatina (D-Northeast) joined Pennsylvania’s Dept. of Military & Veterans Affairs in calling for the Senate to reconvene in order to preserve a bonus program for veterans that will expire before the next scheduled session day.

“It is unthinkable that the door could close for thousands of veterans before they’ve applied for this benefit,” Sabatina said. “We have an obligation to taxpayers to complete the work before us and we have an obligation to veterans to do whatever we can to ensure they receive benefits they are due.”

The State House of Representatives voted to extend the Persian Gulf Veterans’ Bonus Program for three years before recessing in June but the Senate failed to vote on the bill and is not scheduled to be in session until Sep. 21. Under current legislation, the program is scheduled to sunset on Aug. 31.

The bonus provides a one-time cash payment to eligible Pennsylvania veterans of the Persian Gulf War. Eligible Pennsylvania veterans served from Aug. 2, 1990 to Aug. 31, 1991 within the program-designated Persian Gulf Conflict Theater of Operations.

More than 11,000 applications have been submitted to date, and 8,863 of those applicants have been awarded a bonus for a total of $3,652,513 awarded.”

For detailed instructions on how to apply, visit www.persiangulfbonus.state.pa.us.

Thomas Calls For Budget Compromise

State Rep. W. Curtis Thomas (D-N. Phila.), at a news conference gave an update to community members about the current state of the budget impasse, the funding issues health and human services providers soon will be facing, and his roadmap to a budget compromise.

Thomas explained federal services, including Medicare, won’t be affected during the impasse. Thomas also explained due to prudent financial maneuvers and better-than-anticipated revenue, the State should be able to continue funding human services providers until September.

“The situation we are in is a serious one, but at least it is good to know that child-care, health-care and human-services providers in our state will, at least for the immediate future, be able to continue the vital work they do for the people of Pennsylvania. This is good news for those who depend on welfare, health care, drug and alcohol, or homelessness services in our state,” Thomas said. “However, any disruption in this lifeline that so many children, families and communities rely on would be tragic, which is why I am calling on my colleagues to get serious and begin negotiating with each other in good faith.”

Thomas continued that while the situation is serious, service providers would be in a much-worse situation if Gov. Tom Wolf had not vetoed the Republican-backed spending plan that was passed by the majority in the General Assembly last month.

Donatucci Praises Pittsburgh Council On Paid Sick Leave

State Rep. Maria Donatucci (D-S. Phila.) has released the following statement in response to Pittsburgh City Council’s vote to require employers within the city to provide paid sick leave:

“The affirmative vote by Pittsburgh City Council is certainly encouraging. Now that Pennsylvania’s two biggest cities are on their way to providing paid sick leave, we need to consider the hardworking Pennsylvanians in the rest of the commonwealth and extend paid sick leave statewide.

“Every day, Pennsylvanians are forced to decide whether to report to work sick, or risk losing their jobs by taking time off to care for themselves or an ill family member. It’s not fair to force people into making such a difficult decision, just as it’s not fair to have employees serving us food or doing business with us when they have strep throat or the flu.

“It’s time my colleagues seriously consider my HB 624, which would grant paid sick leave statewide. Businesses would see more loyal, productive employees, and our workforce would be healthier and better equipped to take care of their families in difficult times. Paid sick leave is a win for us all.

Dawkins, Frankford NAC Work On Grocery Store

State Rep. Jason Dawkins (D-Kensington) was joined by Kim Washington, executive director of the Frankford Community Development Corp., and SEPTA Assistant General Mgrs. Francis Kelly and Robert Lund to announce a development to bring a grocery store to the SEPTA-owned lots at Pratt & Griscom Streets.

This critical project will have a significant economic impact on the Frankford commercial corridor, and provide Frankford residents and transit customers with access to affordable, healthy, and fresh food.

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