Category: Politics

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Pa. is in the throes of a COVID-19 recession. Wolf, lawmakers need to step up for working families

  By COVID-19, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Budget, Published op-eds

Originally published at the PA Capital-Star November 17, 2020 By Marc Stier No matter where we live, what we look like, whether we are native–born or immigrants, or whether we are struggling or getting by, the COVID-19 recession is a threat to all of us. We need the state government to do more for families and small businesses to meet that threat. Yet the recession will cost the state at least $3.3 billion in revenues—and perhaps more—over two years. Squaring this circle would be difficult at any time, but the General Assembly must act by Nov. 30 when the stop-gap budget enacted in May, covering about about half of the General Fund,  runs out. Democratic and Republican senators appear close to a compromise that avoids a budget impasse at this dangerous time even as it leaves many problems unresolved. Our understanding is that it would fund a full-year General Fund budget at the same level as in fiscal 2019-2020 with some adjustments… Continue reading

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Why The Republicans In Harrisburg Won’t Fight COVID-19

  By COVID-19, PA Budget and Policy Center, PBPC Blog posts, Pennsylvania

Originally published by KRC-PBPC here. COVID-19 cases are rising again across the country and in our state. Cases in Pennsylvania are averaging 1,552 per day in October, almost double the 787 average per day in September and above the 1,364 average per day in April. And, the best evidence we have is that it is not just due to expanded testing. We are testing an average of 15,514 in October, a bit more than in September (13,847 per day) and far more than April (5,996 per day). But the percentage of tests that are positive is also increasing from 7% in September to 9% in October, though far below the 23% found in April. Deaths from COVID-19 have only risen by a small amount in Pennsylvania. But while better treatments should keep us from the disastrous numbers of April, we know that the rise in deaths typically lag the rise… Continue reading

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Statement on the Death of William Wallace, Jr.

  By PA Budget and Policy Center, Statements, White Supremacy and Structural Racism

Originally published by KRC-PBPC here. The murder of Walter Wallace, Jr. is being called tragic. And it is. But when certain tragedies keep happening, they are not just tragic, let alone accidents or mistakes. They are policy. And when public policy leads over and over again to the death of Black people in circumstances where white people are more likely to be spared, the policy is deeply immoral and shameful. And ending it must be our first priority. For the sake of everyone, and especially Black and brown people, we need to rethink and re-imagine how we provide public safety in our Commonwealth. Continue reading

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How the General Assembly Can Try to Steal the Election, Why It Would Be Wrong to Do So, and How to Stop It

  By 2020, Policy reports, Presidential election process

Originally published by KRC-PBPC here. There has been loose talk among right-wing activists calling on the General Assembly to intervene in the choice of presidential electors and thus overriding the vote of the people. Here is what the PA General Assembly might try to do and why under the law and Constitutions of Pennsylvania and the United States, they should not be allowed to do it. Click here to print or read the report full-screen. Continue reading

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The General Assembly Cannot Unilaterally Stop Mail-In Ballots From Being Counted

  By 2020, Policy briefs, Presidential election process

Right-wing advocates and Trump supporters are urging the General Assembly to take action next week to override the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision that allows ballots received after 8 pm on Election Day to be counted. This would be an appalling attack on the rights of Pennsylvanians to vote and have their vote counted, one of the most central rights we have as Americans. Here is what they appear to be planning and why it violates the constitutions of both Pennsylvania and the United States. Continue reading

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Select Committee Proposed by PA House Republicans is a Danger to our Democracy

  By 2020, Elections and Voting, Statements

Originally published by KRC-PBPC here. The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center is a nonpartisan organization. We do not favor one party or another in partisan elections. But we do stand for elections in which everyone has an opportunity to vote and their votes are counted fairly. Thus, we can’t turn away from threats to fair elections even if they come from one political party, as they sadly do in Pennsylvania today. Just as President Trump has recently doubled down on his attempt to sow doubt and create chaos surrounding the upcoming election, Republicans in Harrisburg are proposing to create a select committee to “investigate, review, and make recommendations concerning the regulation and conduct of the 2020 general election.” This committee is a solution in search of a genuine problem. The preamble of the House resolution calls into question the good faith efforts of the administration, county officials, and the Pennsylvania… Continue reading

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Why Pennsylvania Needs a State Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

  By Economic Justice, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State Taxes, Policy reports

By Diana Polson and Marc Stier Originally published by KRC-PBPC here. If one thing has become clear during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that workers who do essential things like providing care for the sick, stocking shelves at grocery stores, and cleaning facilities to keep our buildings clean and safe are undervalued in our society. Despite their hard work, many Pennsylvanians earn such low wages that it remains difficult to pay for rent, food, childcare, transportation, and other necessities. We must raise wages and strengthen worker protections for low- and middle-income workers. In addition, there is another easy step Pennsylvania can take to support low-wage workers. That is a state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which has been effective at reducing poverty in more than half the states across the country.  Continue reading

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How Trump and the Republicans Could Steal the Election

  By 2020, Elections, Fascism, Politics

I’ve been warning about Trump and the path to soft fascism–a fascism that keeps but eviscerates the substance of democratic forms–since 2015.What the federal government is doing in Portland is just the latest step in that direction. Federal police action against the will of the local authorities is against the law. So is unidentified federal agents picking people up in unmarked vehicles. I’ve feared that this is leading to an attempt by Trump to steal the presidential election which he is likely to lose if it is carried out fairly.The Republicans have long been trying to tilt national elections in their direct with voter ID laws, purges of the electorate, gerrymandered congressional districts (which as we will see below could have profound consequences), the end of federal pre-clearance of rules changes, the tacit if not explicit alliance with Russia and the obstruction of justice to covert up which continues with… Continue reading

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Statement on PA Supreme Court Decision in Wolf v. Scarnati

  By Constitutional Law and Civil Liberties, COVID-19, PA Constitutional Law, Pennsylvania

Originally published by KRC-PBPC here. All Pennsylvanians should be gratified by PA Supreme Court’s ruling today that the General Assembly’s attempt to unilaterally end Governor Wolf’s emergency orders is unconstitutional. The Court made its decision, as it should have, on the basis of the plain words of the Constitution which states that a concurrent resolution by the two houses of the General Assembly must be presented to the Governor for his approval or veto. But, as we pointed out in our amicus curiae brief to the Court, and as recent evidence in many other states shows, the consequences of ending the governor’s orders prematurely would have been devastating to the health and economic well-being of us all. Continue reading

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How Many Lives Have We Saved?

  By COVID-19, Pennsylvania

While Republican legislators have been insisting on an early reopening of businesses in Pennsylvania, we have seen one of the most dramatic declines in both COVID-19 cases and deaths of any state in the country. From a height of 1965 on April 19, the number of new cases dropped to 346 on June 21. And from a maximum of 554 deaths recorded on May 5, we had only three recorded on June 21. We have seen, and no doubt will continue to see, fluctuations in these numbers depending on vagaries in testing and reporting and how well Pennsylvanians adhere to guidelines meant to protect us as businesses reopen. But there is no doubt that the sacrifices we have made to limit the transmission of COVID-19 have had an impact. And the experience of states that have reopened businesses early and seen sharply rising numbers of people infected and deaths has… Continue reading