State Sen. Fontana Discusses Public Welfare Programs

As I mentioned in , the Senate passed a budget for 2012-13 on May 9 that raises the spending level by $500 million over what was proposed by the Governor in February, and restores a total of $650 million from the governor’s original cuts from the current year budget (2011-12).

Senate Bill 1466 (SB 1466) includes the restoration of $84 million of the $168 million for the county human services program. SB 1466 also adds $10 million for persons with disabilities and restores $35 million for hospitals and nursing homes. As I also mentioned last week, while this budget falls short in several areas, the proposal does represent a positive shift in the priorities. Demanding more, the Senate Democrats offered amendments to SB 1466 to restore additional funding to the budget, including an amendment to restore all funding for the county human services program. That amendment, along with the others offered by me and my Senate Democrat colleagues failed. SB 1466 is now before the House of Representatives for consideration.

A related issue, tied to last year’s budget, has begun to rise. House Bill 960 (HB 960), which later became Act 22 of 2011, gave the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) Secretary unilateral authority, with no legislative oversight, to implement regulations to reduce $400 million in spending on programs within the Department in the current fiscal year. Thus far, the new DPW regulations implement co-payments for subsidized child care, lower medical assistance payments to nursing homes and managed care organizations, reduce the number of service providers for home-based care for the physically disabled, and limit medical assistance recipients to six drug prescriptions a month.

Proponents of Act 22 cited a need to eliminate fraud and waste in welfare programs; however, these new regulations are hurting those individuals that are in dire need of assistance and who do not “take advantage of the system.” While I continue to advocate for funding of the programs within DPW that so many of my constituents rely upon, I encourage you to contact the Administration and DPW and let them know that these new regulations are increasing an already heavy burden on citizens that need the most support.

Senator Wayne D. Fontana

42nd Senatorial District

www.senatorfontana.com