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Excerpts from PUP NEWSLETTERPHILADELPHIA UNEMPLOYMENT PROJECT - SUMMER 1998JOBS Campaign Growing
H.B. 2308, a companion to S.B. 895, has been introduced into the House by State Representative Linda Bebko-Jones (D-Erie) with broad bi-partisan support. Seven Republicans joined forty-two Democrats in sponsoring the public job creation bill. The Coalition for JOBS released a Report on Welfare Reform in Pennsylvania at the One-Year Mark highlighting the problems that will face the state, welfare recipients and the working poor when welfare time limits are reached in March of 1999. Dozens of organizations around the state have endorsed the campaign and regional meetings in five Pennsylvania cities are being planned to build more support for JOBS. Groups as varied as the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, Catholic Conference, Council of Churches, National Organization for Women, and the NAACP are actively involved in the campaign. Several rallies to build support for JOBS have taken place in the state. Nationally, labor and religious groups came together with community organizations in Washington DC to form a working group to promote public job creation. The city of Philadelphia has announced a "welfare-to-work" plan that will include 3,000 public service jobs for welfare mothers. However, Mayor Rendell has made it plain that these are not enough jobs and more resources must come from the state and federal governments to provide jobs for the thousands expected to work or lose benefits in the period ahead. In the period ahead, people concerned for children, the poor and workers will be raising more powerfully the need for Pennsylvania to use its budget surplus and the windfall realized from welfare reform to provide employment opportunities to our poorest residents. PUP Leader Denise Ripley speaks at raUy in
Harrisburg to build support for the JOBS Bilk Immediately behind her are Joel Weisberg (PA
Jewish Coalition), Dave Wilderman (AFL- CIO), Jack Frye (AFL-CIO), Ed Toff (GCIU) Paul
Arrington (UNITE!) Rep. Ivan Itkin (D-Allegheny), and Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Phila.)
JOBS Bill Introduced in the Pennsylvania House
The bill enjoys bi-partisan support
from 50 State Representatives, including the sponsorship of the following Republican State
Representatives: John Taylor (RPhila.), Ellen Bard (R-Montgomery), Lita Cohen (R-
Montgomery), Pat Browne (RLehigh), Sen. Vincent Mario Civera (R-Delaware), Jane Orie
(R-Allegheny), and Lynn Herman (R-Centre). The bill has been referred to the House Labor
Relations Committee, chaired by Rep. Joseph Gladeck (RMontgomery), and awaits a hearing.
Advocates are urged to contact Rep. Gladeck and ask him to schedule a hearing on JOBS. His mailing address is 41 East Wing, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020. His telephone number is 717-787-2801.
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