Oct. 25, 2017
HARRISBURG – Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Lower Paxton) issued the following statement expressing his disappointment in a Senate-created program that aims to provide scholarships to children of incarcerated individuals but does not specifically provide the same benefit to children of crime victims:
“I question why the fund should benefit only children of inmates rather than the children of crime victims, which I suggested and the Senate specifically rejected. I can understand the negative effect that the absence of a parent who has been incarcerated can have on a child. However, the death of a parent by homicide has no less of a deleterious effect on the blameless child of that victim.
“This issue is too important to circumvent the normal committee process that allows members to raise questions and concerns and refine the proposal to ensure it meets the needs of our Commonwealth in a cost-effective way. We have a responsibility to help our crime victims and their children at least as much as we help the children of inmates.”
The First Chance Fund proposal was inserted by the Senate in
House Bill 453, the omnibus Fiscal Code bill associated with the 2017-18 state budget.
Representative Ronald Marsico
105th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
RonMarsico.com
Media Contact: Autumn R. Southard, 717.652.3721
asouthar@pahousegop.com