"Like 'The Perfect Storm' where three massive fronts collide: a bad economy, a huge deficit and massive tax cuts for the rich." --Al Condeluci, United Cerebral Palsy
Initial report:
The July 1 hearing at the Hill House Association with Rep. Mike Doyle examined the federal budget and its impact on Western PA. An impressive array of witnesses sounded the alarm about how huge tax cuts for the very rich will force severe cuts in already inadequate services, threaten environmental protection and impede economic development.
Hardest hit would be the very people who are most in need of affordable housing, health care, education and children's and family support services, public transit, food programs and senior programs.
On the opening panel: Allegheny County director for Veterans Services, Bill Schofield; former director of the Allegheny Conference, Robert Pease; Jim Klingensmith for the PA. AFL-CIO and the Allegheny County Labor Council; Susan Rauscher, Secretary of Pastoral and Social Concerns for the Catholic Dioces of Pittsburgh and Michael Drohan, PhD.
Testifying were officials from the Consumer Health Coalition, Community Services, Inc., the Port Authority, Just Harvest, NAACP, Dollar Energy Fund, Neighborhood Safety Program, PA. Low Income Housing Coalition, Pittsburgh Stand for Children, Service Employees International Union, the Sierra Club, Pitttsburgh School Board member Randall Taylor, and Karen Rollins-Fitch for Rep. Jake Wheatley.
Submitting written testimony: Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Religion Labor Coalition, Mon Valley Unemployed Committee and Project Hope. A report on the hearing, with excerpts of the testimony will be issued by the Citizens Budget Campaign of Western Pennsylvania.
For coverage: McKeesport Daily News, Pittsburgh Courier, Pittsburgh Catholic, Anderson Little on WDUQ-FM, Metro Radio. A videotape of the hearing will soon be available.