PA & NJ: Better to Look Good, Than Do Good (Phil. Inq. Column About Repub Priorities)

[JPZenger]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20110529_Karen_Heller__Pa___N_J___Better_to_look_good_than_do_good.html

While the human service budget in PA is about to be slashed in the Republican state budget, the Cabinent Secretary in charge of all human services was busy ordering all women in higher positions in the department to wear "closed-toe shoes and nylons or tights." (welcome to summer heat) That spurred the linked great column today by Phil. Inquirer columnist Karen Heller. Here's excerpts, but the whole column is worthwhile, in which she castigates priorities of Republican administrations and legislators in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Excerpts:

"House Republicans also proposed whacking a quarter of all AIDS program funding, and 9 to 11 percent of the Dept. of Public Welfare's child-care assistance, rape-crisis and domestic-violence services, food stamps, and breast cancer screening. Fear not. The staff that helps fewer people in tough times will be properly attired. You will not be turned away by an employee in a skort.

In New Jersey, Gov. Christie tried to strip funding for poorer school districts until the state Supreme Court last week ordered him to restore $500 million. That same week, Christie proposed slashing Medicaid coverage to households earning $30,000 a year. Far too rich. Under his plan, you can earn no more than about $6,000. Mind you, that's pretax income. For a family of four.

If Christie's plan is approved, a woman earning $118 a week for her three children would not qualify for medical coverage. He wants to eliminate $7.5 million in funding to family-planning clinics, which provide cancer screenings, STD treatment, and birth control. Since last year's initial funding cut, six of the 58 clinics in our most densely populated state have closed.

The true measure of our nation is not talking tough or dressing nice, but how we help the less fortunate. In our state budget cuts, it's women and children first."



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[Demeter]

1. Monstrous!

But what we've come to expect of the GOP.