John Baer: It's time for the state to OK emergency funds
HERE'S THE deal. Since it appears that there's no deal to deliver a budget, now more than three months late, even though legislative leaders twice claimed there was and Gov. Ed keeps saying how quickly it can happen, it's time to admit abject failure and act to rescue those most in need - before some tragedy occurs.
HERE'S THE deal.
Since it appears that there's no deal to deliver a budget, now more than three months late, even though legislative leaders twice claimed there was and Gov. Ed keeps saying how quickly it can happen, it's time to admit abject failure and act to rescue those most in need - before some tragedy occurs.
While dysfunctional lawmakers continue wallowing in their own ineptitude, they should at least pass and the governor should sign emergency funding for nonprofit agencies providing services such as child-care for working parents and shelters for victims of domestic violence.
These agencies meet basic needs across the state and serve in some cases as a last stand against disaster. Yet, because of the ongoing failure of state leaders they are cutting back, closing down or laying off workers. Many agencies have run out of money and face interest payments on loans that they were forced to take due to the impasse.
The Pennsylvania Home-based Child Care Providers Association reports that some members can't afford diapers for infants in their care, and others are taking out personal loans to stay open.
Philadelphia's Women Against Abuse says that it's turning away folks in record numbers from its 100-bed facility for battered women and their children.
These nonprofits are run largely by low-paid employees facing delayed, reduced or zero income even as the lawmakers and the governor responsible for this mess continue being paid.
It's unjust, for workers and for their clients. And if any child or victim of domestic abuse suffers or dies because of this Legislature's inability to perform even basic functions, it's criminal.
Tony Ross, president of the United Way of Pennsylvania, says that things are bad and getting worse. "What business can go three or fourth months without income?" he asks. In every county, services are endangered, he says, as reserve funds run out and loans pile up.
Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery County, says that he'll push for emergency spending if there's no budget resolution within the next few days.
"A lot of Pennsylvanians are hurting," says Shapiro. He adds that he'll seek two to three months' worth of funding for nonprofits "if a deal doesn't happen shortly."
If it does, it'll be Deal Number 3. The first was announced Sept. 11 but flopped when Rendell said that he'd veto it. The second was announced Sept. 18 but blew up Friday night when House Democrats failed to honor it.
Rendell met with Senate GOP Leader Dominic Pileggi yesterday but no details were available other than Rendell press secretary Gary Tuma's assertion that "some progress was made."
So, today it's unclear what happens next or if a new deal might get struck or even whether anyone ought to trust another new deal.
The Legislature passed and the governor signed a bill back in early August to pay state workers during the budget fight. Nonprofits providing essential community services deserve the same type of treatment.
When I asked Rendell at a news conference late last week whether he'd consider an emergency-spending bill, he said "no," claiming that it would further delay a budget resolution. Tuma yesterday said that that's still the Guv's position.
The problem is, we've already delayed a budget resolution - over and over again. It's time to move on.
"I respect his position," says United Way's Ross, "but respectfully disagree. At least convene the state's financial community and work out better loan deals [as was done for state workers during July before they were paid]. Nobody's crying wolf here. This is for real."
Lawmakers living in their self-created fantasyland should wake up to this reality and act to help those trying to provide society's safety net.
Send e-mail to baerj@phillynews.com.
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