General Assistance: a Critical Program for Pennsylvania
LAMPa, along with organizations that serve communities across the Commonwealth, recently signed onto a letter asking Pennsylvania lawmakers to protect General Assistance (GA). The letter, delivered to all legislators, urges them to vote against House Bill 33, which would eliminate GA in Pennsylvania, and to ensure continued funding for GA
Gov. Wolf Announces Governor’s Census 2020 Complete Count Commission
Governor Tom Wolf announced that Pennsylvania has selected organizations to be on the Governor’s Census 2020 Complete Count Commission. The Commission will support the commonwealth’s efforts to achieve a complete and accurate census count. “Having an accurate count of Pennsylvania’s population is essential for fair representation at the federal level,”
Legislators Learn About Hunger in Pennsylvania
A Legislative Lunch and Learn, sponsored by Hunger-Free Pennsylvania and partners was held February 4, 2019, in the East Wing of the Capitol. LAMPa Director Tracey DePasquale served on the planning team. Tracey and Lynn assisted with the event that gathered more than 100 PA Senators, Representatives, staffers and constituents
Gov. Wolf Announces Proposed Overhaul of State Public Benefits Programs
Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf recently announced a proposed overhaul of state programs to help Pennsylvanians receiving public benefits earn career-building skills, find good jobs, and access affordable, permanent housing, among other goals. The overhaul would create greater accountability for programs aimed at getting people into the workforce, increase
LAMPa Policy Council Sets 2019 Priorities & Elects New Officers
The Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania (LAMPa) Policy Council met on December 6, 2018, to set their agenda priorities for the upcoming term of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Following a thoughtful, engaging and lengthy conversation among those present the following priorities were identified: Hunger; Creation Care; Poverty; and the 2020
Governor Wolf Signs 2018-2019 Budget
Governor Wolf signed the 2018-2019 state budget into law Friday, June 22, a week before the June 30 deadline with very little controversy. This year's budget includes no new taxes, funding transfers to pay for new school safety initiatives, and deposited money into the Rainy Day Fund for the first
Senate Revenue Package Includes Bad Deal for Environment, Health Care
In the waning days of July, with the House already in recess until September, the state Senate passed a revenue package that for the first time includes a severance tax on Marcellus gas drilling, but trades for weakened regulations on the oil and gas industry and companion attacks on Medicaid.
General Assembly Passes Spending Plan
The 2017-2018 spending plan adopted by Pennsylvania lawmakers by the June 30 deadline includes some good news for Pennsylvania children, including increases in basic education, special education and early childhood funding, plus $2 million to incentivize improvements in school breakfast delivery, for which LAMPa advocated. The final bill avoided or
First Lady Highlights School Breakfast Initiative at Food Security Convening
"Ask any teacher and they will tell you that food is the basic school supply," said First Lady Frances Wolf as she addressed the first Local Food Alliances Convening held at the State Farm Show Complex, bringing together anti-hunger advocates, including ELCA hunger leaders, from around the state. Although one
PA House Passes Budget Bill
The Pa. House has passed a budget that keeps Gov. Tom Wolf's planned expenditures to fight hunger, as well as a modest increase in basic education funding, but cuts spending on environmental protection, economic development and human services. The $31.5 billion plan, which is a decrease from current spending levels,
