Pennsylvania is Missing Out on Billions in Sales Tax Revenue – April 24, 2015

Ending Sales Tax Breaks Can Close State Budget Gap and Fund Schools

It’s no secret the State Legislature faces two big challenges in this year’s budget: providing fair and adequate funding for schools and closing a $2 billion deficit.  What few people realize however is that Pennsylvania gives away twice as much in sales tax breaks than it collects.

If the State collects just a portion of the revenue from exempt items, lawmakers could close the state budget deficit, fund the schools and lower property taxes.  Closing tax loopholes is the fairest way to raise the funds necessary to improve our schools for nearly two million pre-k through 12th grade students.

Click here to send a letter to your local State Representative and Senator telling them to eliminate sales tax exemptions and use the additional revenue for our schools.



When it Comes to Kids, Pennsylvania’s Legislature Can Learn from Congress

There’s certainly  little that Democrat and Republican lawmakers in Washington agree on, but when it comes to providing health care coverage for kids, both sides stepped up to the plate last week.  Congress overwhelmingly approved and the President recently signed the “Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015.”  The law extends the Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for two years and ensures millions of children enrolled in CHIP will not lose coverage.

The Pennsylvania State Legislature can show the same level of bipartisanship by working together to pass the state CHIP extension before the end of September.  Currently, the state’s “Cover All Kids” law bars 47,000 undocumented children from enrolling in this health insurance program, including 9,200 children in Southeastern Pennsylvania.  When children lack insurance they are less healthy, less well-adjusted and their school performance suffers.  That’s obviously bad for the child and worse for our schools and our communities.  Click here to let your State Representative and Senator know you want “all” to mean ALL and permit children regardless of their citizenship status to be eligible for insurance coverage in the States “Cover All Kids” program.



One Night can Make a Difference in the Life of a Child

By now you’ve heard about what you can expect to see this Wednesday at the 2015 Celebration of the Public Citizen of the Year at Vie in Philadelphia.  This includes the incredible performances from student artists, the wide range of items available in our live and silent auctions and the amazing people that we will honor at this year’s celebration.

What you may not realize is the impact your presence at this wonderful event will have on our region’s children.  All proceeds from the Public Citizen of the Year helps PCCY improve the lives and life chances of our region’s children.  By purchasing a ticket to the celebration you will help fuel PCCY’s research, mobilization and direct services for children in the future.  Click here to buy tickets and learn about sponsorship opportunities.  You can also get a sneak peek at all the items up for bid in our auctions by clicking here.