June 12th, 2008

Representatives from agencies that care for the state’s most vulnerable, such as the mentally ill, mentally retarded, and those addicted to drugs, rallied in the capitol yesterday, once again asking for increased state funding in this years budget.  These agencies have been flat-funded (meaning without a cost-of-living-adjustment) for the last several years, and once again Gov. Rendell’s proposed budget includes no cost-of-living adjustment for ‘08-’09, reports the Patriot-News.

 ”Without a cost-of-living adjustment, the community-based service system cannot grow to meet the state’s needs,” said Alan Hartl, top legislative liaison for the Pennsylvania Community Providers Association.

The agencies are asking for a 3% increase to meet the rising cost of care, transportation and utilities.

In other news, Rendell also continues to say that  there is no question that PA could be fined up to $3 million a day by the federal Labor Dept. if the budget is not passed in time.

He then continued that CA had been fined in 1994 in a similar situation.  However, Leni Fortson, a spokesperson from the Dept. of Labor rebutted that this was simply not true.

She claimed that the state asked the dept. in 1998 (not 1994) what would happen if it violated that labor law and the dept. provided pertinent court cases in response.  The spokeswoman said that, “No investigation took place that resulted in any type of sanctions.”