When Common Sense Matters

As I write this blog entry, Congress has just passed a six-month extension of unemployment benefits for the millions still out of work across the country. That's good news for the 2.5 million people whose eligibility lapsed while Congress debated the bill. Those of us who advocate for the health, education and well-being of children hope our federal lawmakers will act similarly, and end the stalemate over FMAP.

What is FMAP and why does it matter to Pennsylvania kids?

Also known as the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage ("FMAP"), this legislation was designed to help states handle their increasing Medicaid costs as a result of the recession. But in 2009 Congress provided the states, including Pennsylvania, with a larger share of Medicaid matching funds to assist in meeting greater demand for Medicaid during the economic crisis and stagnant unemployment.

But these funds are scheduled to expire in December and to date, Congress has failed to act on FMAP. This could mean a loss of $850 million to Pennsylvania because the recently-passed state budget included the assumption of these FMAP funds.

This likely will mean the reduction of basic education funding resulting in the layoffs of thousands of teachers statewide; cuts to child welfare funding that keeps kids safe and programs that serve children with mental disabilities; and damaging reduced support to early childhood programs including Pre-K Counts, the state's preschool program for at-risk three- and four-year-olds; Child Care Works, the program that helps low-income working parents pay for child care; and Nurse Family Partnerships, that program that provides low-income, first-time moms with the care and support they need to raise safe, healthy babies.

Inaction by Congress will force struggling states such as ours to make deeper cuts that will affect children and families still reeling from the effects of the recession.

Now is not the time to stop progress – in our schools, in our communities, or with our economy. Our leaders in Congress must do the right thing and pass the extension of FMAP.

Joan L. Benso is president and CEO, PA Partnerships for Children.