Grace and peace to you in the name of the Light of the World!

One of the major issues we have been addressing recently is the economic stimulus plan being organized by President Bush and the U.S. Congress.  LAMPa and many of our coalition partners (in Harrisburg/PA) have been assessing this proposal for its implications on family and state budgets in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Please click here to see a letter being sent today to Pennsylvania Senators Casey and Specter by Pennsylvanians for an Effective Economic Stimulus Plan.  Please click here to see today’s related news release providing further information about this issue.  Our efforts have been coordinated with the ELCA Washington Office and you can see its related letter to Congress by clicking here.

Although the initial plan is quite worthy with regard to its inclusion of rebate relief for low and moderate income families, we (the Pennsylvanians for an Effective Stimulus Plan coalition) are quite concerned about the implications of the slowing economy and fear that the initial stimulus plan outlined by the U.S. House and the White House does not sufficiently respond to the challenges facing low and moderate-income families.  For example, the absence of extended unemployment insurance (UI) and increased Food Stamp benefits minimizes the plan’s impact to help families deal with the economic slowdown.  There is also concern that in shortchanging the needs of these families, the package will fail to have a significant stimulus effect on the overall economy. 

Thanks be to God for the ELCA and LAMPa’s commitment to advocacy ministry with and for people living in poverty, the vulnerable, the disenfranchised, and on behalf of all God’s creation!