Religious and community aid groups ask Pa. lawmakers not to kill cash aid for disabled adults
MARC LEVY Associated Press
First Posted: May 29, 2012 - 6:29 pm
Last Updated: May 29, 2012 - 6:30 pm
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Faith-based and community aid organizations from across Pennsylvania have swung into action to urge the Republican-controlled Legislature not to end a Depression-era program that provides about $200 a month for tens of thousands of disabled adults who can't work.
The coalition of more than 100 groups, including the AARP, the United Way and Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, Protestant, Unitarian Universalist and Jewish groups, released the letter advocating for the General Assistance cash benefit last week, as negotiations pick up on a state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
"Our primary interest and concern is hunger, but hunger is just a symptom of other needs and challenges for people and so we see the elimination of General Assistance as majorly impacting people's ability to access shelter (and) food," the Rev. Amy Reumann, director of the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania, said Tuesday. "It's a small amount of money that's going to have a devastating effect for people who are on the margins and don't have other resources."
A spokesman for House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, said he could not immediately respond to how the Republican leadership will handle the matter, but a spokesman for Gov. Tom Corbett said the Republican has not changed his mind about eliminating the program.
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/b2dafd1d9d8c4fee9119ad1fe246f26f/PA-XGR--Pennsylvania-Budget/
