Keystone Today

Gov. Tom Wolf (D-PA) wants the Republican-led State Legislature to use $500 million in unspent federal American Rescue Plan Act funds for $2,000 rebates to households earning $80,000 or less.

“The cost of everything from gas to groceries is rising, and for Pennsylvanians living paycheck to paycheck, that can mean painful   decisions,” the governor said, according to the Official Pennsylvania Government Website. “Pennsylvanians deserve to be supported and the opportunity to thrive. Yet my Republican colleagues are sitting on more than $2 billion of support that will need [to be] returned to the federal government if they don’t pass a plan.”

Wolf praised Pennsylvania Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) and Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Kirkland (D-Chester) for supporting his rebate proposal.

“I’m grateful that Sen. Tartaglione and Rep. Kirkland are taking the initiative to get this money into the hands of those who need it most,” Wolf said, according to his website. “I’m hopeful Republican leaders will get on board and get bills for this program to my desk as soon as possible.”

Tartaglione said she is proud to support the proposal, which is called the PA Opportunity Program.

“The people of Pennsylvania have proved their resiliency time after time, enduring the economic hardships that the COVID-19 pandemic brought,” Tartaglione said, according to the Official Pennsylvania Government Website. “Now it is time for Pennsylvania to step up and support our people, and I am excited to partner with Gov. Wolf to fight for the passage of the PA Opportunity Program. We have billions of dollars sitting in the bank; it’s time we start using it to help Pennsylvanians.”

It's time to "get relief money out of the vault and into the community," Kirkland told the governor's website. “Our plan puts money into the hands of working people who will spend it at local businesses and build our economy from the bottom up. I’m proud to stand with Gov. Wolf and Sen. Tartaglione today to make it happen.”