2018 Pennsylvania Budget Summit Resources

The Budget Summit is an in-depth look at the Governor’s 2018-19 budget proposal, including what it means for education, health and human services, the environment and local communities.

Here is a PDF of the Summit agenda.

Here is a PDF of all bios for speakers and presenters.

Below is the Summit agenda with resources as available for each session:

The Summit begins with PBPC’s policy experts unveiling our comprehensive analysis of the governor’s proposed 2018-19 budget and the challenges confronting our commonwealth.

(Read a short memo outlining our analysis of Governor Wolf's proposal)

(Download the PowerPoint presentation from this session here)

Summit workshops offer an opportunity to take a deep dive into state-level and federal policy and budget issues, gaining insights from policy and advocacy experts from a diverse array of organizations and fields. The full list of workshops is outlined below.

Defending Against Federal & State-level Attacks on Medicaid, Medicare, & SNAP (offered in BOTH morning and afternoon sessions)

• Antoinette Kraus, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Health Access Network
• Lauren Badger, Government Relations Associate, Food Research & Action Center
• Deborah Swerdlow, State Strategies Manager, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

 (Download the PowerPoint presentation from this session here)

Morning Session Workshops:

How the State Budget Impacts Vulnerable Communities of Color

• Ashleigh Strange, Communications Director, Make the Road Pennsylvania
• Rev. Dr. Franklin Hairston-Allen, President, Harrisburg Area Chapter of the NAACP
• Nijmie Zakkiyyah Dzurinko, Co-founder and co-coordinator, Put People First! PA

Mobilizing and Engaging Grassroots Groups for Advocacy

• Moderator: Jeff Garis, Outreach and Engagement Director, PA Budget and Policy Center
• Hannah Laurison, Co-Founder, Pennsylvania Together
• Jane Palmer, Executive Director, Indivisible Berks
• Adanjesús Marín, State Director, Make the Road Pennsylvania

How State & Federal Courts Cases Targeting Labor Could Impact Budget Advocacy

• Moderator: Eric Rosso, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Spotlight
• Molly Chapman Norton, Executive Director, The Atlas Project
• Mike McGuire, Assistant Legislative Director, AFSCME Council 13
• Hillary Linardopolous, Staff Representative, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers

How to Communicate Your State Budget Advocacy Message Effectively

• Moderator: John Neurohr, Communications Director, PA Budget and Policy Center
• Brittany Crampsie, Press Secretary, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa and the Senate Democratic Caucus
• Susan Spicka, Executive Director, Education Voters of Pennsylvania
• Dan Doubet, Executive Director, Keystone Progress

Afternoon Session Workshops:

Making the Rich Pay Their Fair Share

• Marc Stier, Director, Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center
• Diana Polson, Policy Analyst, Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center

Understanding & Responding to Federal Tax Reform of 2017

• Presenter: Steve Wamhoff, Director of Federal Policy, Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy

Threading the Property Tax Needle: Reducing Property Taxes and Responsibly Funding Schools

• Presenter: Steve Herzenberg, Keystone Research Center

PA Budget 101: An Introduction to the State Budget Process

• Miriam Fox, Executive Director, House Committee on Appropriations (D), Rep. Joe Markosek, Chairman
• Ted Mowatt, CAE, Senior Associate/Lobbyist, Wanner Associates, Inc.
• Liana E. Walters, Esq., Legislative Director, Senator Art Haywood

In conjunction with the Summit luncheon, we’ll be hearing from a bipartisan panel of policy leaders from the General Assembly of Pennsylvania about their perspectives on 2018-19 state budget negotiations, moderated by government relations and strategic communications veteran, Corinna Vecsey Wilson. Panelists include:

• Senator David Argall, Senate Republican Policy Committee Chair
• Senator Lisa Boscola, Senate Democratic Policy Committee Chair
• Representative Mike Sturla, House Democratic Policy Committee Chair