THREAD: General Assistance - Senate: listen up. 🚨🚨🚨
We want to raise awareness to folks of all the amendments that were ignored today to speed through and cut General Assistance on behalf of the @PASenateGOP:
They ignored a vote to protect victims of domestic violence.
They ignored an amendment that would protect those in drug treatment programs.
They refused to consider an amendment that would protect GA for those with physical and mental disabilities, including veterans with PTSD.
They didn’t want to hear the amendment that protected GA for caregivers of individuals with disabilities.
They shut down amendments for victims of human trafficking, individuals with HIV/AIDS, and individuals with cancer.
They wouldn’t hear amendments for nonparental caregivers of children with cancer, and of individuals over the age of 65.
They shut down the amendment process to protect those displaced by floods, landslides, fires, and other natural disasters.
They didn’t want an amendment to protect GA for any veterans.
They didn’t want to hear debate on amendments that would mandate studies into the harm of GA cuts.
Y’all get the point. Here is a full list, once again. Next part of the thread will be some context.
The General Assistance Program provides an average monthly benefit of $200 a month. For many this is a short term safety net. Our comrades today at our action talked about using it to buy soap or other toiletries.
FACT: a ton of the funds spent on this program ultimately get reimbursed by the federal government when beneficiaries get enrolled in long term disability. This measure isn’t a way to save money that makes fiscal sense.
Some important context: the budget currently defunds General Assistance and HB33 is another shot to destroy this program.
The legislation pins critical medical assistance funding for hospitals against the General Assistance program. This is by design.
Just want to recap: the @PASenateGOP has quorum proof control of this process, so they OWN the attacks they are perpetrating on domestic violence survivors, human trafficking survivors, veterans, the homeless, children, and more.
Elections are coming.
We appreciate the @PaSenateDems walking out today, but @GovernorTomWolf needs to veto #HB33 or it is all for nothing.
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