Federal Budget Cuts Hurting PA Children

The federal government has refused to re-imburse the Commonwealth $138 million for children and youth services. The Administration for Families and Children is refusing to provide these funds for crucial services for our children. AFC says it is because they changed the qualification rules. It seems they neglected to forward those changes to state officials and so are now denying the funds. These are monies used for juvenile justice, counseling, and intervention. Apparently they are gone for the foreseeable future.

Pennsylvania is the only state being denied these funds. This is a lot of money and counties are now facing bad decisions. Some have already cut critical services to children and youth. With the loss of these funds local property owners face significant tax increases, probably forcing many of them from their homes.

I have a few suggestions. First we all should contact our Federal officials and demand that reimbursement be made and payments continued into the future. Secondly, since we face an immediate loss of $138 million they state legislature could release some of their $324 million slush fund to cover the sosts of these essential services. Thirdly let's make this an issue in this year's campaigns. When you attend an event for a Senate or Congressional candidate ask them what they intend to do about this situation.

Why does our state legislature need all these funds, with no accountability for how they're spent, anyway? It's pure corruption. The Auditor General isn't even allowed to audit these accounts. Let's use some of them to ease the present crisis while pressure is brought on our Senate and Congressional delegations to restore the funding.

If we can't take care of and protect our children we truly have our priorities screwed up.