In this issue:

Hunger and Poverty are Not Just Academic...

Lutheran Legislator Introduces Bill to Study and Alleviate Poverty

     Hunger and Poverty are

Not Just Academic…

The most recent issue of the Journal of Lutheran Ethics, a free, online publication of the Division for Church in Society of the ELCA, includes articles offering biblical and theological perspectives, tools and resources about Christian responses to hunger and poverty.  Feature articles, introduced by Nancy Arnison, director of the ELCA World Hunger Program, approach poverty through multiple lenses: 

Who Gets to Eat? Consumption, Complicity and Poverty by Shannon Jung, Saint Paul School of Theology, argues that the culture of consumption is destructive to both the poor and the affluent, seducing both its victims and beneficiaries to adopt its values.  Jung points out the importance of addressing the multiple dimensions of poverty and the ignorance through which consumers call cheap food a blessing, deny the true costs of production, feel powerless as purchasers, and fail to see the structural components of poverty.

Early Christian responses to poverty are examined in Patristic Christian Views on Poverty and Hunger by Susan Holman, Harvard School of Public Health. She examines the influence of second to sixth century writings which informed the actions of Reformation-era Christians seeking social change.  Practices such as Christians integrating care for the poor and hungry into worship, the early church's struggle with the distinction between "worthy and undeserving beggars," dilemmas of personal wealth and lifestyle, the

role(s) of charity and justice, and motivations for alleviating poverty provide continued instruction for the church today.

In Mark's Gospel, Social Outcasts, and Modern Slavery, Matthew Rindge of Gonzaga University illustrates the interconnections between hunger/poverty and other social injustices, with focus on the ways in which poverty entraps young girls in sex slavery. He uses Mark's Gospel as a resource for responding to sex slavery by examining the actions and attitudes that Jesus exemplified in his interactions with outcasts and the institutions of his time.

In related articles, Luther’s theology of the Holy Spirit comes into dialog with Christian approaches to spiritual and material poverty in an article by Victor Thasiah, Associate Editor of the Journal of Lutheran Ethics.  David Creech, director of hunger education for ELCA World Hunger reviews Of Widows and Meals: Communal Meals in the Book of Acts by Reta Halteman Finger.  The July issue of the Journal of Lutheran Ethics will focus on development and ethics.

Lutheran Legislator Introduces Bill to

Study and Alleviate Poverty

The impact of poverty on families and individuals in Pennsylvania is real and significant.  

The most recent U.S. Census data reveal that nearly 1.46 million Pennsylvanians, including more than 444,600 children, lived in poverty in 2008. This is an increase from 2007 and does not include the many people now suffering job losses, home foreclosures and bankruptcies in the recession. Of note is the increase in rural poverty, with a higher percentage of the population of rural Crawford County (16.2%) and McKean County (17.7%), for example, live in poverty than those living in urban areas such as Pittsburgh in Allegheny County (12.4%).

Poverty in Pennsylvania is systemic, and yet there is no comprehensive overview of its causes or approaches to its reduction. LAMPa, along with coalition partners, has worked to get legislation introduced to undertake the first, full investigation of the causes and trends of poverty in the Commonwealth, as well as to suggest and implement solutions. House Resolution 833, which directs the Joint State Government Commission to do both, was recently introduced by Representative Eugene DePasquale, an ELCA Lutheran, along with twenty-five co-sponsors. It is now under consideration by the House Health & Human Services Committee.

The resolution calls for the government to enlist the private sector to shape and address the causes of poverty, as well as suggest and implement solutions. It asks for answers that focus on joint public-private strategies to alleviate poverty and its resulting side effects that have an impact on every Pennsylvanian. LAMPa will continue to work to support this legislation and will engage LAMPa advocates when necessary to strengthen or move its passage.

Other states have conducted similar comprehensive studies of poverty, and emerged with new approaches and effective solutions to its reduction. In Minnesota, the effort originated in the faith community.  The Rev. Mark Peters, Executive Director of the Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy in Minnesota, comments, “The Legislative Commission to End Poverty emerged from a diverse array of faith leaders into a bi-partisan legislative commission united under a single vision: a Minnesota free from poverty. The Commission’s recommendations seek to move poverty off the public agenda not by ignoring it, but by eliminating its root causes.” To learn more about the Minnesota effort, visit http://www.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/lcep/.

Each year around May 1^st, LAMPa begins the arduous (but never dull!) process of monitoring the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s progress towards completing a state budget by the June 30^th deadline.  This process is full of drama, delays, posturing and constant negotiation. LAMPa staff  strive to provide Lutherans with an overview of what’s really at stake in the budget and what you can do to help the most vulnerable of our Pennsylvania neighbors.

How We Got to Where We Are

As of the end of May, the eleventh month of the state’s fiscal year, revenue collections were down $1.2 billion from the estimates on which the current budget was based.  Because any proposed budget relies heavily on previous projections plus anticipated growth, the Governor’s proposed budget released in February – and passed by the House in April – is already out of balance.  While cuts made during the year will remain in effect in 2010-2011, and new cuts are being identified in many line items, Governor Rendell has been firm in his belief that the budget he proposed was nearly the minimum necessary for the government to perform its core services.

When revenue is down significantly, yet spending is also up in a handful of core areas, cuts that go beyond the surface level of reducing waste are required.  These cuts are deep, and greatly affect the lives of both program recipients, and workers who provide services (both public and private).  Generally speaking, many human service programs that are designed to help people in crisis situations are often the first to be considered for the chopping block.

Some line items will see increases every year, even in tough economic times.  In Pennsylvania, transportation and corrections have traditionally received significant annual increases to keep up with both the perceived need and inflation as these  items are deemed central to the Commonwealth’s functioning.  At this time, with revenue significantly down but with several anticipated spending increases, cuts that go beyond the surface level of reducing waste are required.  Generally speaking, many human service programs that are designed to help people in crisis situations are often the first to be considered for the chopping block. The cuts projected for this year are deep, and greatly affect not only the lives of program recipients,  but also the workers and agencies who provide services (both public and private) to children, the elderly, the poor and the sick. These cuts can ultimately impact local communities and their well being by contributing to unemployment and eroding the tax base.

What Can the General Assembly do?

This year, the General Assembly has two choices.  It can make a “cuts only” budget, or it can combine cuts with a revenue package that will bring in approximately $320 million dollars over the course of the next fiscal year.  The revenue package currently under consideration in the House would do the following: 

·       Raise the cigarette tax by 10 cents per pack

·       Levy a new tax on cigars and smokeless tobacco (currently, PA is the only state that does not tax these and one of two that does not tax cigars)

·       Lower the vendor discount that corporations get for paying their sales tax on time

·       Create a severance tax on natural gas companies drilling in the Marcellus Shale

As a caucus, the House Democrats (who control the House) are mostly united in their position that a “cuts only” approach to this year’s budget shortfall is not a good solution.  However, they are divided on what types of revenue should be considered, and particularly around how the Marcellus shale tax revenue should be distributed.  Many of them want to see this money mostly directed towards the general fund to help lessen the deficit, while a vocal minority want only the first $50 Million to go towards the general fund, with the rest specifically earmarked for the future environmental impacts related to the drilling. Generally against the idea of raising revenue, the Senate Republicans are waiting to see exactly what the House will pass before taking action.

Will There Be An Impasse?

The jury is still out.  Just a few days before the deadline, it is reported that House Democrats and Senate Republicans differed by about $400 million in regards to how much the budget should spend overall.  However, should they can come to an agreement, they can pass a spending plan that leaves the details of any legislation needed to actually fund it until the fall.

The $850 Million Dollar Question…

As grim as a $1.2 billion deficit may look, the situation becomes even more dire if Congress does not authorize an extension of FMAP (Federal Medical Assistance Percentage) to the tune of $850 million. This amount is already included in the proposed budget.  Governor Rendell has already released some of the cuts that would be made without FMAP funds, which include eliminating homeless and drug and alcohol programs, and deeply cutting rape crisis centers and early childhood program. To learn more and take action, visit LAMPa’s FMAP action center.  If you’ve already been to the center and sent the suggested e-mail, please CALL your U.S. Representative and ask him or her to support a six month extension of FMAP.

SAVE THE DATES! Two Advocacy Equipping Events & Lutheran Day 2011

Sat. November 6, 2010: "Jesus Calls Us... to Action!" Location: Christ Lutheran Church, Conyngham LAMPa and the planning team from the Northeastern PA Synod invite any and all to join us for a day of workshops and networking with a focus on strengthening congregational justice ministries.  LAMPa's own Amy Reumann will be the keynote speaker!  Registration information to come.

 

Sat. November 20, 2010: "Daily Bread Advocacy"  Location: Susquehanna University. LAMPa and the ELCA World Hunger Appeal invite you to join the ELCA Washington Office for a day of exploring how our voices can multiply people's daily bread.  To encourage participation from those traveling a distance, the cost is just $10 with lunch included.  Students are free.

 

Lutheran Day at the Capitol - Tuesday May 17, 2011