Month: December 2020

No comments

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

No comments

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

No comments

STATEMENT: In Support of Governor Wolf’s Newest COVID-19 Restrictions

  By PA Budget and Policy Center, Statements

Originally published at KRC-PBPC https://krc-pbpc.org/research_publication/statement-in-support-of-governor-wolfs-newest-covid-19-restrictions/ HARRISBURG — Marc Stier, director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, released the following statement on Governor Wolf’s most recent COVID-19 restrictions. Governor Wolf has called for new action to protect Pennsylvanians from the COVID-19 pandemic. All of us, no matter where we live in our state, what we look like, or whether are rich or poor, are vulnerable to this terrible virus and the damage it does to our health, lives, and economy. And make no mistake, it is the disease itself, far more than regulations to protect our health, that is causing economic distress especially for working people, women, Black and brown people, and immigrants. So we should all welcome the governor’s actions and reject attempts to divide us by approaching necessary measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 as an ideological or partisan issue. But protecting our health is not enough. We also… Continue reading

No comments

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

No comments

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