Pennsylvania House Democrats From Bucks And Allegheny Counties Challenge Republicans Over Welfare Reform

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Continue Debate Over Sweeping Reforms To Welfare System

July 3, 2011 11:11 AM

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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Legislation that makes sweeping reforms to Pennsylvania’s welfare system was among the package of bills passed along with the new state budget last week.

Republicans pushed for the administrative changes to the welfare system in the belief that there are hundreds of millions of dollars in efficiencies that can be found. But Democrats like Allegheny County’s Joe Markosek, ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, are worried.

“Perhaps cutting waste, fraud, and abuse is just an excuse to cut benefits, terminate eligibility, cut provider rates – who knows?”

But Bucks County House Republican Scott Petri believes reducing administrative costs may actually reduce waiting lists. “We could actually provide services to people who need them and not jobs for people who think that it’s become their right to have a paycheck out of the taxpayer dole.”

Skeptics say the changes give too much authority to the state welfare secretary.

Reported By Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio

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Pennsylvania Lawmakers Continue Debate Over Sweeping Reforms To Welfare System

http://www.politicspa.com/75-morning-buzz/25829/ 7/5 Morning Buzz | PoliticsPA

[...] Council Members Taking Raises WHYY Newsworks: Federal Cuts Means Fewer Summer Jobs For Philly Kids CBS: Pennsylvania House Democrats From Bucks and Allegheny Counties Challenge Republicans Over Welfare [...]
MARY

THE SYSTEM IS ABUSED. IF YOU HAVE A CHILD OR CHILDREN OUT OF MARRIGE YOU ARE ENTITLE.OR YOUR FAMILY FOR GENERATION HAVE WELFARE IT CONTINUES THE EVIL CHAIN.THE DEBT IN THIS COUNTRY IS BEING CAUSE BY FREELOADERS THAT KNOW HOW TO WORK THE SYSTEM.SPREAD THOSE LEGS AND ADDITIONAL INCOME IS ON IT’S WAY. GET A REAL JOB IS NOT IN WELFARE DEPENDENTS!!!DRUG TESTING SHOUD NOT BE THE ONLY REQUIREMENT. SPOT CHECKS ON THE FAMILY UNTIL, UNANNNOUNCE CHECKS. THIS WAY THEY WILL GET CAUGHT WITH THEIR PANTS DOWN!!!

Ban-Ho

Please translate

NotALemming

Please follow Florida’s lead, and begin testing ALL welfare applicants for drugs. That would be great!

Hater

That does sound great. Let’s take it a step further and give them and their kids 12 and up birth control when they come in for testing. Violate the rules, no additional benefits.

Peter

Easy for someone with enough to eat to criticize the food stamp program. Just wait til you have to live off of social security.
Nostromo

Republican/Corporate policies have ushered more work offshore, leaving more citizens in need of aid. Corporate welfare continues unabated as evidenced by institutional bailouts, handouts to Wall Street, tax cuts for the upper-crust. The affluent exploit markets here, utilizing a sagging infrastructure; not mindful of paying for its upkeep, and mining consumers for their gain. Draw your own conclusions.
angryrevolutionary

To Scott Petri…..try being a case worker and manaage the headache that is this system. Many of us believe that the system is abused. However PA regulations make it difficult to do our jobs the right way and the court system tends to rule on the side of the recipient when it comes to the appeal of closed cases and ineligibility.
the voice of reason

Its about time