March 31st, 2011

Wednesday, Department of Public Welfare Secretary nominee, Gary Alexander met with the Senate Appropriations Committee to discuss and evaluate the Department’s plan to manage services for the poor, elderly and disabled.

The proposed county-level cuts for both hospitals and aid programs were a cause of concern and frustration for many senators, yet Alexander emphasized the Department’s focus on taking people off public aid, placing them into jobs and stopping the administration of illegal welfare services.

Still, the concerns about budget costs were brought up by senate members and Alexander assured critics that even though hospitals were expecting  greater increase in funding, the Department’s plan will provide them with funding that can allow them to maintain their services.

Alexander mentioned the need for reform of social safety net administration but with Corbett’s budget, what the Department of Public Welfare can do is improve services and maintain costs.