Category: COVID-19

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Build a Brighter PA

  By American Rescue Plan, COVID-19, We The People–PA

Thanks to the American Rescue Plan providing grants to all Pennsylvanians, additional funds to Pennsylvania families with children through the child tax credit and higher subsidies for health insurance, we have seen a faster economic recovery than we might have imagined a year ago. And the Infrastructure Bill will help keep the recovery growing by creating 80,000 jobs each year by funding massive new investments in roads, bridges, and public transit, as well as the in the clean energy we need to limit climate change.  But while the federal government has done its part, the state government has not. The economic recovery of thestate lags behind that of other states. Our unemployment rate is well above the national average. And there are many needs that the state could and should be meeting with ARP funds. And many people are still suffering from both the hangover of the pandemic recession and the recent… Continue reading

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On Governor Wolf’s Imposed Mask Mandate

  By COVID-19

  The PA Budget and Policy Center supports Governor Wolf’s decision to require teachers, staff, and students to wear masks in all K-12 schools and in child care centers for four reasons. First, this is a measure that is necessary to protect the school children and entire communities in Pennsylvania from the threat of the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19. Taking this step will also help keep schools open, which is important to both families and the education of our children. It will also limit disruption for working families, school communities, and local businesses. Second, the governor’s decision vindicates the basic principle that public health measures should be decided on the basis of the best science available to us. The scientific consensus tells us that masks help reduce the spread of the virus and protect all of us, especially children who cannot yet be vaccinated Finally, the governor’s decision… Continue reading

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An Open Letter to State Representative Russ Diamond

  By COVID-19

Dear Representative Diamond, The other day you publicly shared an article about the possible dangers of the mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. I read it and the underlying scientific article. While one can raise some quibbles about the scientific competence of computer scientists writing about viruses and vaccines, I actually think it is an excellent example of the kind of hard questioning that is central to the process of scientific inquiry. The article draws on some established and new theories to raise questions about whether the mRNA vaccines could have negative consequences. Without that kind of questioning and the research it generates, it is possible to miss unintended consequences of medical treatments. (I believe that some people with scientific expertise think that some of the theories put forward in the article are misunderstood or quite wrong. But I don’t have the expertise to make that judgment. My conclusions here presuppose that… Continue reading

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Statement: New COVID-19 Stimulus Bill Is Not Enough for PA

  By COVID-19, PA Budget and Policy Center, PA Economy, Statements

Originally published by KRC / PBPC at https://krc-pbpc.org/research_publication/statement-new-covid-19-stimulus-bill-is-not-enough-for-pa/ Marc Stier, director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, has released the following statement about the COVID-19 stimulus package recently passed by the U.S. House and Senate. The new COVID-19 stimulus bill passed by the House and Senate is missing important elements that are critical to people of Pennsylvania. Those who are unemployed due to the pandemic will not receive enough support. Nor will Pennsylvania’s small businesses that need help, such as those in the hospitality industry. There is no funding at all for the state or for local governments that face revenue shortfalls that are likely to lead to deep budget cuts that hurt students and those who rely on the state for important services. Those cuts will delay an economic recovery. Yet, even though it is insufficient in many ways, it will provide much needed help to individuals and… Continue reading

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The Need for Federal Aid to the States: A Statement

  By COVID-19, PA Economy

Originally published at KRC-PBPC at https://krc-pbpc.org/research_publication/the-need-for-federal-aid-to-the-states-a-statement/ Marc Stier delivered the following remarks at a press event held by Senator Bob Casey. Thank you, Senator Casey, for inviting me to speak today and for your advocacy for out state and its people. Pennsylvania, like every state in the country, desperately needs new covid-19 relief measures from the federal government The Pennsylvania economy needs it. Pennsylvanians who are suffering from the economic crisis created by the pandemic need it, especially those who are unemployed or who are facing a housing crisis. And These are disproportionately people of color and women. And all of us who rely on a functioning state government need it. After a welcome if only partial economic recovery thanks to the impact of the CARES Act, the economy of Pennsylvania has been slowly slipping back into a deeper recession since September. With limited restrictions on business activity, small business… Continue reading

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Statement on PA CARES 21 Proposal

  By COVID-19, Economic Development, PA Economy, Statements

Originally published by KRC-PBPC at https://krc-pbpc.org/research_publication/statement-on-pa-cares-21-proposal/ Pennsylvania Senate Democrats have today put forward a bold plan to borrow funds at low interest rates to provide relief to many Pennsylvanians who are still struggling with the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. For three reasons, it should be enacted quickly. First, it is desperately needed not to just to provide immediate relief to small business, the unemployed, local governments, our schools, health care providers, front-line workers and others but to keep the Pennsylvania economy from falling deeper into recession. The failure of the General Assembly to use the remainder of the CARES funds to provide aid to vulnerable Pennsylvanians, and especially to our small businesses, front-line workers, and health care providers was a dereliction of their responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in this crisis. And, as the IFO pointed out, the fairly quick, albeit partial, rebound from the economic disaster… Continue reading

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Covid-19 Strikes Home

  By COVID-19

It feels as if COVID-19 is getting closer and closer. Two friends have lost parents to the disease in the last few days. Two of my staff members have been sick with it in the last two weeks. Both were very sick; one of them terribly so. Most of these deaths could have been avoided if this country had mounted a strong response to it and if all the people who live among us took it seriously and acted appropriately. To those of you you deny the seriousness of COVID-19, who say it is a hoax or just like the flu; to those of you who believe mask mandates violate your so-called rights; to those of you who have encouraged people to believe these things out of idiotic ideology or, even worse, political expediency–the blood of tens of thousands Americans are on your hands. We will not forgive or forget… Continue reading

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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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HB 2513 Threatens Not Just Our Health but the Economy

  By COVID-19, Economic Development, PA Economy, PBPC Blog posts

Republicans in Harrisburg appear ready to move to override Governor Wolf’s veto of HB 2513, which would severely limit his authority to limit the operation of restaurants, bars, and private clubs. We are well aware of the severity of the pandemic’s impact on the hospitality industry and have urged Pennsylvania’s General Assembly to act to provide relief for it. But, we are at a time when COVID-19 cases are increasing in many parts of the country with predictions of a further increase everywhere as the weather gets colder. It is not just irresponsible but insane to make it impossible for the governor to act aggressively to stem the further spread of the virus in venues that are proven to be a major source of infection. The legislation is based on a false premises—that government closures are the reason for the economic slowdown and devastation in the food service and related… Continue reading