Stimulus Check Pennslyvania Payment: Gov. Tom Wolf Continues to Press Lawmakers to Give $2,000 Direct Payments to Pennsylvanians
Recently, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf made an appearance in West View, where he pushed the Republican-led General Assembly to adopt legislation that would send $2,000 stimulus payments to a large number of Pennsylvania residents whose annual income is $80,000 or less.
In February, Wolf proposed a proposal for $1.7 billion, which includes the direct payments; but, at the moment, Pennsylvania is just waiting for a $2 billion portion of the American Rescue Plan.
I’m talking about the two billion dollars that are currently in a checking account in Harrisburg, and according to the terms of that account, if we don’t spend that money by the end of the year 2024, we have to return it back to the federal government. Do you wish to carry out that activity? “I don’t,” Wolf reportedly said, as reported by CBS Pittsburgh.
Wolf Also Remarked That the Stimulus Checks Will Be Helpful in Battling Increasing Prices.
In an earlier statement, Wolf stated, “Pennsylvanians should not be forced to pick between paying for childcare or petrol, or paying for utilities or groceries.” We have the ability and the resources to make sure that they are not having any difficulties and to ensure that they are successful.
I’m urging both sides of the aisle in the General Assembly to put their differences aside and work together on this issue for the sake of the people of Pennsylvania because when they succeed, we succeed as a commonwealth. Let’s get this money out of our treasury and into the hands of Pennsylvanians so they can put it to good use.
The statement went on to say that the program’s objective was to “assist families who are still recovering economically from the COVID-19 epidemic or support them in covering costs associated with the pandemic and managing the current, everyday increasing cost of living.”
House Bill 2531 and Senate Bill 1204 are two pieces of legislation that the Democratic leaders in the House and Senate have introduced to show their support for Wolf’s initiative. Elizabeth Rementer, who serves as the press secretary for Governor Wolf, stated that Republicans in Pennsylvania “have been hesitant to act on committing the federal cash or offer any plans for the dollars.”
If the federal ARPA aid of two billion dollars has not been used by the 31st of December in 2024, then it will be returned to the federal government.
In a recent statement, Governor Wolf said, “Now is the time to act, and the bill has already been introduced in the General Assembly.” (The time to act is now.) I would like to address the Republican leaders in the General Assembly and suggest that we pass this bill as soon as possible.
Gov. Wolf Says, “Let’s Pass This Bill Now,” and He Keeps Pushing for Direct Payments of $2,000 to Each Pennsylvanian.
At the West View HUB in Pittsburgh, Governor Tom Wolf and Representative Emily Kinkead called on Pennsylvania’s Republican-led General Assembly to finally help Pennsylvanians by passing legislation for the $500 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)-funded PA Opportunity Program, which would send $2,000 checks to Pennsylvanians.
“The price of everything from gas to groceries is a little higher now than it was a few weeks ago, and for Pennsylvanians who live paycheck to paycheck, even a small increase in costs can mean hard choices like paying for food or rent,” said Gov. Wolf.
“I see that pain in communities all over Pennsylvania, and I want to talk about solutions. I want to give $2,000 checks to people and families in Pennsylvania who need it.”
In Gov. Wolf’s proposed PA Opportunity Program, $500 million in ARPA funds would go directly to Pennsylvania households with incomes of $80,000 or less. These payments could be up to $2,000. The goal of the program is to help families still recovering financially from the COVID-19 pandemic or to help them cover costs related to the pandemic and deal with the rising cost of living right now.
Gov. Wolf said, “Now is the time to act, and the bill has already been brought up in the General Assembly.” “Let’s pass this bill now, I say to the Republican leaders in the General Assembly,”
In February, Pennsylvania’s governor, Tom Wolf, announced a plan to spend $1.7 billion of the state’s $2 billion in federal ARPA funds. Democratic leaders in the Senate and House have introduced bills, Senate Bill 1204 and House Bill 2531, to support Gov. Wolf’s PA Opportunity Program.
However, the Pennsylvania General Assembly, which is led by Republicans, has been slow to commit the federal funding or come up with a plan for the money. If the legislature doesn’t do anything with the money by December 31, 2024, it will go back to the federal government.
Rep. Emily Kinkead said, “We have a huge amount of federal money that will help Pennsylvanians who are struggling in a way that has never been done before.” “People in our state are facing the highest prices in history because of high inflation and unchecked corporate greed.
Many Pennsylvanians’ lives could be changed by a $2,000 check, but we need to spend the money from the American Rescue Plan soon or send it back to the federal government. Why wouldn’t we use that money the way it was meant to be used, to help those who need it the most?
Our Republican majority has refused to work with us on things that would clearly help the people, like raising the minimum wage. However, they could help Pennsylvanians whose wages have dropped a lot because of inflation by sending ARPA funds directly to working families. Now is the time to act.”
The governor was there with Rep. Kinkead, Senator Lindsey Williams, Scott Pavlot, the founder of West View HUB, and other important people from the Pittsburgh area.