Stories tagged: "economic crisis"


SSpeaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., holds an event to mark 100 days of the Republican majority in the House, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, April 17, 2023. McCarthy is hurtling toward one of the most consequential weeks of the new House Republican majority as he labors to pass a partisan package that would raise the nation's debt limit by $1.5 trillion in exchange for steep cuts that some in his own party oppose. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
House GOP Passes Bill That Would Take Food and Healthcare From Pennsylvania Families

An estimated 519,000 Pennsylvanians could lose access to Medicaid health insurance, nearly half-a-million residents would lose access to food assistance, and Pennsylvania veterans would lose 272,600 doctors visits for issues like mental health and substance disorder treatment.

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., speaks during a news conference in Statuary Hall at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
MAGA Republicans Plan to Hold the Economy Hostage to Cut Social Security and Medicare

The debt ceiling is a numerical limit, set by Congress, on how much money the federal government can borrow to pay its bills. Increasing the debt ceiling is a routine congressional task, but Republicans want to hold it hostage to make cuts to Social Security and Medicare, even though failing to raise the limit would cause massive economic devastation.

File - Frozen turkeys are displayed at a supermarket in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. Americans are bracing for a costly Thanksgiving this year, with double-digit percent increases in the price of turkey, potatoes, stuffing, canned pumpkin and other staples.(AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
No Thanks: How Much More You’ll Pay for Thanksgiving Dinner This Year in Pennsylvania

Your Thanksgiving meal with friends and family could cost you upwards of 20% more this year, depending on where you’re eating it.

A Lowe's employee walks through the parking lot as shoppers walk to their car after shopping at a store in Robinson Township, Allegheny County, on Wednesday, May 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
These State Democrats Are Up for Reelection; Here Are the Minimum Wage Bills They’ve Proposed

If Democrats can make sizable gains on the Republican majority in Harrisburg this election, maybe we’ll finally see some movement on the minimum wage.

Cumru Twp, PA - June 1: The Sheetz gas station and convenience store on Lancaster Pike In Cumru Township Tuesday morning June 1, 2021. (Photo by Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images)
Pennsylvania Gas Prices Continue to Fall

After reaching a record high of $5.07 per gallon in early June, the average price for a gallon of gas in Pennsylvania is now down to $3.85.

FILE - Gov. Tom Wolf speaks at the Reading Area Community College in Reading, Pa., Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. Wolf followed through on his veto threat Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, rejecting Republican-penned legislation to allow people to carry a firearm openly or concealed, without a permit, adding to his total for Pennsylvania's chief executive with the most vetoes in more than four decades. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
Wolf, Democratic Lawmakers Revive Plan to Send $2,000 to Struggling Pennsylvania Households

The PA Opportunity Program was first proposed by Wolf in February. It would send direct payments of $2,000 to around 250,000 households.

FILE - A man pumps gas at a mini-mart in Pittsburgh on June 15, 2022. As the challenges confronting President Joe Biden intensify, his predictions of a rosy political future for the Democratic Party are growing bolder. The assessments, delivered in speeches, fundraisers and conversations with friends and allies, seem at odds with a country that he acknowledged this week was “really, really down,” burdened by a pandemic, surging gas prices and spiking inflation. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
Pennsylvania Dems Introduce Plan to Suspend State’s Gas Tax and Push Anti-Price Gouging Laws

State. Sen Lisa Boscola introduced a plan this week to suspend the state’s 57.6-cent-per gallon gas tax—the highest in the nation—for two months in order to reduce the cost of gas in the commonwealth. Boscola’s bill will require approval by the Republican-led legislature to become law.