Welfare
Medicaid Eligibility Matters
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Should a health-care program for low-income seniors, the disabled, kids, and pregnant mothers be co-opted by hundreds of thousands of healthy adults? Adults not even…
Read More: Medicaid Eligibility MattersThe continued growth in public welfare spending is unsustainable. The federal government is responsible for much of the welfare system, but states can adopt reforms that preserve welfare resources for the most vulnerable. By enacting reforms that promote work and independence, Pennsylvania can right-size state welfare spending and help more Pennsylvanians get back on their feet. Taxpayers deserve a welfare system that compliments a strong economy.
Welfare
Getting Serious About Welfare Abuse
The Department of Public Welfare’s effort to curb fraud and abuse continues. This week the Department announced the creation of a new office, the Office of Program Integrity. This…
Media
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100,000+ Improperly Get Pa. Med Benefits
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare testified that hundreds of thousands of individuals were improperly receiving Medicaid, taxpayer-funded health care for the poor and the disabled. Capitolwire writes:…
Media
Read More: 100,000+ Improperly Get Pa. Med BenefitsWelfare
Welfare Funds for Home Bowling Alley
What do bowling alleys, chandeliers, and six-person hot tubs have in common? They’ve all been purchased with state welfare funds. Yesterday Tim Costa, executive deputy secretary of the Department of…
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Read More: Welfare Funds for Home Bowling AlleyTaxes & Economy
Welfare Fraud Persists
The LIHEAP heating assistance program is once again under fire from Auditor General Jack Wagner. A 2007 audit lead the district attorney of Philadelphia to charge 18 people with…
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Read More: Welfare Fraud PersistsGovernment Accountability
PA House Passes Four Reform Bills this Week
The Pennsylvania State House has been especially productive this week, passing four pieces of key legislation that CF blogged on last week.
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Read More: PA House Passes Four Reform Bills this WeekTaxes & Economy
House Republicans Introduce Welfare Reforms
Public Welfare is both the largest—at over $27 billion in total spending— and among the fastest growing programs in the Pennsylvania state budget. In…
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Read More: House Republicans Introduce Welfare ReformsEducation
80 Ideas for a Prosperous Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania must undergo a rapid transformation to reverse the poor policy decisions that have eroded economic freedoms and brought the state to its present condition. To provide a roadmap for…
Report
Read More: 80 Ideas for a Prosperous PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Immigration Verification and Welfare Fraud
Thank you for allowing the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives, a non-partisan educational institute based in Harrisburg, to submit written testimony concerning HB 1359, which would require proof of…
Testimony
Read More: Immigration Verification and Welfare FraudState Budget
What Happens to PA Budget without FMAP Money
Gov. Rendell is supposed to meet with lawmakers today to discuss options if Congress doesn’t approve the $850 million in federal FMAP funds. Pete DeCoursey (subscription) breaks down the…
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Read More: What Happens to PA Budget without FMAP MoneyState Budget
How to Reduce Welfare Fraud
Following Matt Brouillette’s commentary on whether Tom Corbett (should he win) can balance the budget and keep his ‘no tax’ pledge,…
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Video: Welfare Fraud
CF Research Associate Elizabeth Stelle gives testimony on welfare fraud and abuse in Pennsylvania in this latest video, courtesy the PA House Republican Policy Committee. You…
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Read More: Video: Welfare FraudState Budget
Welfare Fraud and Abuse
Good afternoon, my name is Elizabeth Stelle, and I am a research associate with the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives, a non-partisan educational institute based in Harrisburg. Thank you…
Testimony
Read More: Welfare Fraud and AbuseTaxes & Economy
Perpetuating Fraud And Mismanagement
The Department of Public Welfare will receive additional federal funding to support its Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This amount will be used to increase grants by…
Media
Read More: Perpetuating Fraud And MismanagementState Budget
Medicaid Errors in PA Cost Upwards of $320 Million
In a news release, PA Auditor General Jack Wagner estimates that – using the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare’s (DPW) estimated error rate – improper Medicaid payments cost Pennsylvania taxpayers…
Media
Read More: Medicaid Errors in PA Cost Upwards of $320 MillionState Budget
Re-examine Public Welfare Spending
Pennsylvania has, as of this writing, gone 90 days without a budget, longer than any other state. The impasse has been driven by Gov. Rendell's demand for higher spending and…
Commentary
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Auditor General Finds More Waste and Fraud in Pennsylvania Welfare
A new report from Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner finds that the Special Allowances program in the Department of Public Welfare is “rife with mismanagement and potential for fraud.” …
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Illegal Immigration in Pennsylvania
Yesterday, Rep. Metcalfe held a press conference promoting the National Security Starts at Home reform package. The bills would make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to live and…
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Read More: Illegal Immigration in PennsylvaniaState Budget
Why state governments spend too much
A report from the Rockefeller Institute at SUNY (news release) looks at state and local government spending on social welfare. After adjusting for inflation, they found that expenditures…
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Read More: Why state governments spend too muchWelfare
Welfare Reform: PA gets poor grades
The Heartland Institute has a new report, Welfare Reform after Ten Years: A State-by-State Analysis (for PDF version click here) ranking the states both on welfare outcomes –…
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Read More: Welfare Reform: PA gets poor gradesWelfare
The Lesson of Ebenezer Scrooge
Fantastic article in the Freeman compares and contrasts Ebenezer Scrooge to the proponents of the welfare state: The treadmill, poor law, and union workhouses to which Scrooge…
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Public Welfare Needs Assistance
Although the 2007-2008 budget controversy is fading from the limelight, the exorbitant spending it authorizes cannot be overlooked. One of the largest portions of state spending is public welfare,…
Commentary
Read More: Public Welfare Needs Assistance