The Budget is Done. Our Work is Not. FROM THE DESK OF MAI MIKSIC, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR This week Pennsylvania lawmakers finally passed the budget. As I write to you in my first months as Executive Director, I want to share what this budget means for children and...
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State Budget
Opportunity, Not Optics
Giving Families What They Really Need Affordability is the hot political word of the moment and with good reason – the economy is the most important issue for voters. And for many parents, it’s impossible to ignore that it costs around $32,000 per year to raise...
The cost to the cost of living
Giving the People What They Want Want to talk about affordability? Lowering child care costs? Expanding health insurance for kids? How about keeping property taxes low? The PA House of Representatives did more than talk about affordability this week – they...
Opening Play of the PA State Budget
MAKE THE NUMBERS LINE UP FOR KIDS In many ways, putting together a $53.2 billion state budget is like winning at Rubik’s cube – each twist toward matching patterns must be carefully planned or else you could get trapped in a losing game. Governor Shapiro...
Budget Wins For Kids
With Disappointment at the Federal Level, Pennsylvania's State Budget is a WIN for Kids. Ask most Pennsylvanians how they would grade the performance of their state and federal representatives and senators and they’d generously give them an F. In our...
TESTIMONY: Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit Bill – Feb 26 2025
Testimony for House Finance Information Session In support of the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit bill Priyanka Reyes-Kaura, K-12 Education Policy Director at Children First February 26, 2025 Children First supports a refundable Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit...
Fly, children, fly – Feb 7, 2025
MOVING THE BALL FOR CHILDREN & TEENS Pennsylvania is energized for the Eagles to win on Sunday and bring the Vince Lombardi Trophy back to Philadelphia. After Governor Josh Shapiro’s budget address this week, Pennsylvania is also gearing up for the FY26...
Medal Tally in the Budget Olympics – Jul 19, 2024
THE WINNERS IN THE PA BUDGET! It being a big Olympic year, we felt it appropriate to measure the performance of our elected officials in Harrisburg, and review why some of our key causes lost. Gold Medal: Public Education Agreement Breaks Records There’s a $1...
What’s wrong with unicorns and rainbows? – Feb 9, 2024
A RAINBOW AFTER A LONG, CLOUDY FEW YEARS "As I listened to that budget, [it was] a bunch of unicorns and rainbows..." said Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R - Westmoreland). In a time when children and teens continue to struggle, they could use some...
Quick – How Did Kids Fare in the Budget? – Jul 7, 2023
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY The budget negotiations were as wild as trying to ride a broncin' buck in a rodeo. While the House reluctantly voted to accept the Senate's less ambitious budget plan, the deal is not done until the Senate sends the bill to...