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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Lawrence Curry |
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Curry urges governor to reconsider cuts
HARRISBURG, Jan. 20 – Rep. Lawrence Curry, D-Montgomery/Phila., Democratic chairman of the House Aging and Older Adult Service Committee, sent a letter to Gov. Tom Corbett urging him to reconsider changes which will devastate programs for elderly and poor Pennsylvanians.
Corbett has reduced funding for the Human Services Development Fund and wants to impose an asset test for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps.
"It is unconscionable to continue to try to balance our budget on the backs of the poor and the elderly, when there are other funding sources like a Marcellus Shale extraction tax which are not being tapped," Curry said. "And this is at a time when our population is getting older by the day."
HSDF funds were cut by 36 percent in the last budget, and Corbett has cut an additional 5 percent with his recently-announced mid-year budget freeze.
HSDF programs are designed to keep seniors living in their own homes as long as possible. They include adult day care, which allows primary caregivers to work during the day while the senior is cared for, home aid services which can aid in cleaning and other chores around the house, and home delivered meals.
In Pennsylvania, SNAP, the food stamp program for low-income families, has one of the lowest fraud rates in the country, approximately one-tenth of one percent. An asset or means test will limit the value of all possessions and bank accounts to $3,250 for a family with a senior older than 60, or $2,000 for any other family. One car and the family residence are not counted as assets.
"Forcing a family to make sure it has no nest egg to qualify for help is foolish," Curry said. "Instead of rewarding them for trying to save for an emergency, this will cost them either the assistance they need or their safety net, and I strongly urge the governor to re-think this."
A copy of the letter to the governor may be viewed at: www.pahouse.com/PR/154012012.pdf.
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