Legislation

This site will help you keep track of some important legislation that the WJP is organizing around. While we try to keep our pages up to date, we recommend that you look up bills online to find out their most current status. Federal bills can be searched for using THOMAS. State bills can be looked up by typing in HB (for a House Bill) or SB (for a Senate Bill) followed by the bill's number in the top corner of the legislature's website.

Farm Bill:

What it is: a Federal bill that includes many of the agricultural programs, but most important to us - it includes the Food Stamp Program (It's part of the Nutrition Title).

Where it is: The Farm Bill is up for reauthorization and revision this year. The bill is still being written (as of 6/18/2007), which means that we can help say what gets written into it!

What we want in it:

Absolutely NO CUTS!!
Exclude all retirement accounts from being counted as assets
Create provisions that promote eating fruits and veggies
Increase the asset limit by $1000
Raise the minimum benefit to $25
Raise the average benefit from $1 per meal

Who to contact: your Congressperson and US Senator, and tell them to protect and improve the Nutrition Title.

Utility Bill: House Bill 824 (HB824)

What it is: a state bill that will create more protections for lower-income utility customers.

Why we like it:

It halves the maximum amount of a deposit, and requires utilities to give the deposit back six months earlier.
It lowers the maximum reconnection fee.
It extends the length of time customers have to repay reconnection fees and any outstanding amount due.
It shortens the amount of time utilities have to reconnect your service to, at most, 72 hours.
It requires shut-off notices to be physically posted year-round instead of during the winter months only.

Where it is: This bill is currently in the Consumer Affairs Committee (As of 6/18/07).

Sponsors from Allegheny County: Jake Wheatley (D) – 19; Don Walko (D) – 20; Dan Frankel (D) – 23; Joseph Preston (D) – 24; Thomas Petrone (D) – 27; Paul Costa (D) – 34; John Pallone (D) – 54

Who to contact: Your state representative, and tell them to vote for HB824!

State EIC: House Bill 377 (HB377)

What it is: a state bill that will create a state level Earned Income Credit.

Why we like it:

The federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the nation’s biggest anti-poverty program and helps make work pay for low-income workers. It is worth up to $4,536 for working families and can increase a worker’s income by as much as 40%! Taxpayers use these much-needed refunds to pay off debt, purchase needed appliances or school supplies and help cover medical expenses.
765,000 PA taxpayers received the EITC in 2004. If there had been a state EITC, those low-income workers would have received an additional $385 million in state tax refunds!
Taxpayers would be able to choose between the current PA Tax Forgiveness (a refund of state taxes paid) and a refundable state EITC.
For many low-income working families, a state EITC would provide a significantly higher refund.

Where it is: This bill is currently in the Finance Committee (As of 6/18/07).

Sponsors from Allegheny County: Lisa Bennington (D) – 21; David Levdansky (D) – 39; Joseph Markosek (D) – 25; Joseph Preston (D) – 24; Jake Wheatley (D) – 19; Don Walko (D) – 20

Who to contact: Your state representative and tell them you support this bill!