Philly Leader

This week, Gov. Tom Wolf was joined by legislators, community members and stakeholders to discuss reintroducing the PA Opportunity Program that would send $2,000 in a direct payment to Pennsylvania residents to help them bounce back from the pandemic.

Wolf unveiled a $1.7 billion proposal through American Rescue Plan Act dollars in February, a press release from the governor’s office said. State Senate and House Democrats introduced the legislation but the funds were not appropriated by the Republican-led General Assembly.

“This year’s budget made major investments in working families across the commonwealth, putting Pennsylvania on a pack to a brighter future, but we still have the funds to make this investment in the people of Pennsylvania right now,” Wolf said in the release. “People need help now, and we can afford to help them. Let’s put this cash back in the pockets of Pennsylvanians, to help cover the higher costs of gas, groceries, and everything else.”

The payments would go to Pennsylvania households that make an income of $80,000 or less to help with economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as inflation.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a major toll on Pennsylvanians,” Rep. David Delloso (D-Delaware) said in the release. “It is time we step up to help Pennsylvanians now. That is why I am introducing updated legislation to create the PA Opportunity Program, which would make direct payments of up to $2,000 to Pennsylvania households. This program, which is expected to help at least 250,000 households across Pennsylvania, is needed now more than ever to help workers and families recover economically from the pandemic and assist them in affording childcare, education and training, and basic household expenses.”

Sen. Tina Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) explained that in April she and Wolf announced a plan for the $2,000 checks to be distributed. She noted that the PA Opportunity Program, along with other legislation like minimum wage reform, is intended to create an immediate and lasting impact for those most vulnerable. 

“To ensure a truly equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, we must ensure we are lifting from the bottom, not raising up the top,” Tartaglione said in the release. “The majority party in the legislature has shown they are willing to pass pro-business legislation like lowering the Corporate Net Income Tax, now with just 10 scheduled session days remaining this year for the PA Senate, we still have the opportunity to pass meaningful legislation that will dramatically help our constituents like raising the minimum wage and passing the PA Opportunity Program.”

Sens. Tim Kearney and Anthony Williams were joined by Folcroft Council President Joe Papaleo and other stakeholders in the Folcroft community to tout the program.

“The PA Opportunity Program will make our economic recovery from the pandemic more equitable, ensuring we don’t leave Pennsylvanians behind,” Kearney said. “The slow growth from the Great Recession taught us we can’t have top-down approaches – we need a bottom-up recovery that gives everyone a piece of the pie.”

Williams noted that the money will have a “real impact” on families who are struggling to pay bills in areas like gas, food and utilities. 

“The PA Opportunity Program will put money directly into the pockets of people who have been hit hardest by the economic effects of COVID-19 and inflation, giving them some reprieve and support,” he said.