November 1, 2019
Legislation to update Pennsylvania’s election laws and pay for upgrades to voting machines includes up to $4 million to help ensure an accurate 2020 Census count in the Commonwealth. The law, signed by Gov. Tom Wolf on Oct. 31, is a significant change. It allows anyone to cast a mail-in ballot without giving a reason...
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October 21, 2019
LAMPa accompanied seven Pennsylvania Lutheran Disaster Response coordinators and synod representatives to the 2019 LDR Consultation in New Orleans in October to address climate change and its implications for our ministries. This year’s gathering focused on building relationships with synodical, congregational and advocacy partners to address not only disaster relief but climate change mitigation and...
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October 2, 2019
Twelve percent of children in Pennsylvania live in concentrated poverty according to “Children Living in High Poverty, Low-Opportunity Neighborhoods,” a new KIDS COUNT® data snapshot released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Using the latest data available from the U.S. Census Bureau, the snapshot examines where concentrated poverty has worsened across the country despite a...
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September 2, 2019
The Keystone Research Center released the 24th edition of its report “The State of Working Pennsylvania.” The report finds that, despite low unemployment and a glimmer of good news on the wage front, economic gains are still disproportionately going to Pennsylvanians at the top of the income distribution at historic rates. Changing that requires bold...
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July 29, 2019
A decades-long General Assistance (GA) program expires August 1, 2019, affecting more than 11,000 Pennsylvanians who relied on the small, temporary program targeted to the most vulnerable as a bridge in times of crisis. LAMPa’s director urges ministries to learn who is affected, do what can be done to fill in the gaps, and be...
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July 8, 2019
Recent news stories of appalling conditions at immigrant detention centers and of deep human sorrow on our country’s southern border have many of us desperate to be part of change. Mary Campbell, ELCA’s Director of AMMPARO (Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities) invites any faith leader (not just ELCA – rostered and...
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July 1, 2019
A decades-long General Assistance (GA) program that had been re-instated by the state Supreme Court last year was eliminated last week, affecting more than 11,000 Pennsylvanians reported to be relying on the small, temporary program targeted to the most vulnerable as a bridge in times of crisis. LAMPa staff and other advocates had accompanied recipients,...
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July 1, 2019
On June 28, Pennsylvania adopted a $34 billion budget that includes no new taxes but socks $330 million away in a rainy day fund. Highlights include increases for housing, education (basic, pre-k and special education), election security and help for a struggling agricultural industry. Funding for the state’s two major anti-hunger programs was held level....
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June 12, 2019
In this critical time in history, “The Forgotten Luther II: Reclaiming the Church’s Public Witness”, this volume argues that what is urgently needed is a cogent, clear, biblically based and theologically grounded rationale for the manner in which the church speaks and acts in the political arena. Lured at times into other-worldly quietism because of...
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June 12, 2019
Pennsylvania is at risk of an undercount in the 2020 Census, and this could mean a significant loss of federal funds for healthcare, nutrition assistance, transportation, housing, education, programs for children and parents, and much more. Pennsylvanians can not afford to put these programs needlessly at risk. That’s why every Pennsylvania resident needs to take immediate action...
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