Can coffee turn commuters against budget cuts?

Handing out free beverages to focus attention on social service cuts

Philadelphia-area social service groups have started a grass roots campaign to lobby for cautious spending cuts in Harrisburg.

Members of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Budget Coalition rallied outside suburban station, urging people to “wake up and smell the budget crisis” in the state. Debbie Plotnik is a member of the group and a mental health advocate. She says cuts should not include social service agencies because during down economic times social services are needed the most.

“We are the organizations who provide childcare, eldercare health care for folks with disabilities, education early childhood. The budget cuts without revenue enhancements threaten the jobs of the people in our communities who serve the people in our communities.”

The groups are afraid that state cuts will devastate social service agencies and hurt people who have already been caught in the bad economy who are seeking help to get back on their feet.