December 22nd, 2008

Today the Patriot-News features an op-ed by Joan Benso, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children.  Benso says that the economic crisis should serve as an impetus for Pennsylvania to enact laws that benefit childrens’ healthcare.

She writes:

While video games, snowboards and dolls are likely to be on many kids’ Christmas lists this year, just imagine what would happen if American parents could make some requests of Santa. They might be asking for a stable job that allows them to pay their rent or mortgage and keep food on the table; better health care for their children; reliable child care that fosters early learning, and a few extra dollars to assure that there are gifts under the tree.

This holiday season finds Pennsylvania’s families wishing to fulfill basic needs. And, let us not forget, the vast majority of poor Americans are children.

Experts say the unemployment rate could rise to nine percent the last quarter of 2009. More unemployment means more jobless people, more people without health care and an increase, ultimately, in the number of children in need. More than one-third of Pennsylvania children already live below 200 percent of poverty while more than 200,000 children here live in deep poverty.

Read the entire op-ed at the Patriot.