The 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

Welfare Without Work Fails

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 15, 2012

The Obama administration recently relaxed welfare to work requirements, arguing it will help the truly needy. In contrast, Pennsylvania lawmakers took an opposite step by including new welfare work requirements…

Media

Read More: Welfare Without Work Fails

Health Care

ACA a Boon to Special Interests

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 13, 2012

Tim Carney continues to highlight the role special interests— including the largest players in the health care industry—played in crafting the socalled Affordable Care Act, dispelling the myth that…

Media

Read More: ACA a Boon to Special Interests

Government Accountability

Reverse Robin Hoods Charged at DPW

  • August 8, 2012

Earlier this year when CF took on welfare fraud and abuse within the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, angry e-mails, phone calls and adverse editorial rhetoric came pouring in, calling…

Media

Read More: Reverse Robin Hoods Charged at DPW

Health Care

State Officials Give Medicaid Expansion a Thumbs Down

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 7, 2012

Is expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act a good idea for states? According to state budget directors across the country, the answer is a resounding no.  A recent survey conducted by…

Media

Read More: State Officials Give Medicaid Expansion a Thumbs Down

Welfare

Attorney General Chases More Welfare Thieves

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 3, 2012

In another example of those employed in the welfare system (allegedly) getting rich off the poor through fraud, Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly has charged two Delaware County DPW employees, Cynthia Lewis and Ivan…

Media

Read More: Attorney General Chases More Welfare Thieves

Taxes & Economy

Welfare Anti-Fraud Measures Earn Gold Medal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 1, 2012

The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare received an award for its recent efforts to curb waste and fraud.  The Council of State Governments gave DPW a 2012 Innovations Award…

Media

Read More: Welfare Anti-Fraud Measures Earn Gold Medal

Welfare

Welfare Reforms Save $173 Million

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 27, 2012

Tucked away in the blizzard of budget bills at the end of June were some significant welfare reforms that not only save money, but empower the poor. Reforms in the…

Media

Read More: Welfare Reforms Save $173 Million

State Budget

Pennsylvania Welfare Changes will Save an Estimated $173 Million

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 27, 2012

Act 80 of 2012 amends the Pennsylvania Welfare Code to include several reforms to Department of Public Welfare spending in the 2012-13 state budget. Act 80 will save state taxpayers…

Memo

Read More: Pennsylvania Welfare Changes will Save an Estimated $173 Million

Health Care

Medicaid Big Threat to States

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 23, 2012

A new study by the State Budget Crisis Task Force found Medicaid is one of the six biggest threats facing states. That should be no surprise to our readers.

Media

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Welfare

NYT Blasts Corbett, Misses Facts

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 20, 2012

Recently, the New York Times ran an editorial that willfully neglected to mention the utter failure of more welfare spending to reduce poverty in Pennsylvania. The editorial was long on…

Media

Read More: NYT Blasts Corbett, Misses Facts

Welfare

State Flexibility Essential to Preserving the Safety Net

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 17, 2012

Last week, I noted a number of states whose governors were refusing the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act because of the costs the expansion would impose. Over…

Media

Read More: State Flexibility Essential to Preserving the Safety Net

Taxes & Economy

Welfare: Don’t Repudiate Resounding Results, Replicate Reform

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 16, 2012

A new move from the Obama administration would waive work requirements under TANF (cash assistance). Requiring recipients to work was a central provision of the highly successful 1996 welfare…

Media

Read More: Welfare: Don’t Repudiate Resounding Results, Replicate Reform

Health Care

States Take a Stand Against Medicaid Expansion

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 10, 2012

The Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act would cost Pennsylvania an additional $2 billion through 2019, should the commonwealth participate.  That represents merely the state share, as taxes…

Media

Read More: States Take a Stand Against Medicaid Expansion

Taxes & Economy

Welfare is Number One in New Budget

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 27, 2012

Pennsylvania taxpayers will once again spend more on welfare than any other department in the General Fund, including education, according to newly released budget spreadsheets (based on the tentative…

Media

Read More: Welfare is Number One in New Budget

Public Union Democracy

Unions Fight Flexible Funding

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 25, 2012

Gov. Corbett’s budget proposed combining five county human services programs into one flexible block grant. In the past, state legislation dictated how much counties could spend under each category, regardless…

Media

Read More: Unions Fight Flexible Funding

Public Union Democracy

Voters: Limit Government Spending!

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 14, 2012

In a recent poll, Susquehanna Polling and Research asked 700 registered Pennsylvania voters if they would support limiting the growth of state government spending—legislation similar to the…

Media

Read More: Voters: Limit Government Spending!

Welfare

DPW: No More Tax $ for Limo Rides

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 12, 2012

In 2007, Western Pennsylvania Child Care (WPCC) spent taxpayer dollars meant to house and counsel juvenile delinquents on limo rides to an NCAA basketball tournament game and the King of…

Media

Read More: DPW: No More Tax $ for Limo Rides

State Budget

Block Grants for Human Services a “Godsend”

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 6, 2012

State funding for county services may soon be streamlined, wasting fewer dollars on bureaucratic largesse and focusing aid on programs that are most effective at helping the needy. Yesterday,…

Media

Read More: Block Grants for Human Services a “Godsend”

State Budget

Getting Rich Off the Poor: Examining Welfare Abuse

  • June 5, 2012

  Over the past few years, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare conducted a series of audits and uncovered many questionable practices among state contractors. Some providers of welfare…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Getting Rich Off the Poor: Examining Welfare Abuse

Welfare

Taking the Road Less Traveled: Fostering Private Charity Care

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 4, 2012

Our current welfare system is failing our most vulnerable citizens and bankrupting our commonwealth. Despite skyrocketing welfare spending, 15,420 individuals with intellectual disabilities…

Media

Read More: Taking the Road Less Traveled: Fostering Private Charity Care

Taxes & Economy

Nearly One Million Found in Out-of-State Welfare Fraud!

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 30, 2012

The facts are starting to get in the way for critics of welfare reform. By reviewing just three months of non-contiguous out-of-state EBT card transactions (November 2011 to January…

Media

Read More: Nearly One Million Found in Out-of-State Welfare Fraud!