HARRISBURG – The House Republican Policy Committee has released a report entitled “Beyond Poverty” as part of its statewide initiative, “Empowering Opportunities: Gateways Out of Poverty.” Members of the committee include State Reps. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) and Tommy Sankey (R-Clearfield).
“Poverty is often regarded as a big city problem,” Gabler said. “Folks in Clearfield and Elk counties would strongly disagree. Making that mistake is one of the reasons we have been stuck for so long simply talking about the problem and not actively seeking solutions.”
The report listed specific targets the committee will focus on and attempt to produce specific legislative proposals to address.
“We will be looking at programs that may have been successful but discontinued due to lack of significant participation,” Sankey said. “In many cases, it’s as relatively simple as empowering someone with basic life skills, such as handling their finances, or helping them acquire access to basic needs, such as access to food, water and clothing.
“Many people need to experience the pride that comes with ‘learning to fish’ as opposed to the expectation of being handed a ‘fish’.”
On a related note, Sankey will be part of a Wednesday legislative briefing entitled “Rural Health in Pennsylvania: Issues and Perspectives.”
“Affordable health care is one of those very obvious basic needs,” said Sankey. “I will be joining five of my colleagues in the General Assembly to discuss with experts the options available now to rural parts of Pennsylvania and ways we can improve what we have rather than bank on an expensive federal government program.
The briefing may be viewed on Sankey’s Web site, www.RepSankey.com, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The complete report from the House Republican Policy Committee may be viewed on the committee website,www.pagoppolicy.com.