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WILKES-BARRE — Gov. Tom Wolf Monday signed into law the Pennsylvania Achieving a Better Life Experience Act — PA ABLE — that enables the creation of tax-exempt savings accounts specifically for people with qualified disabilities and their families.
But the bill’s chief sponsor, state Sen. Lisa Baker, was not there.
John Rizzo, Casey’s press secretary, said the timing of the bill signing was a product of both Wolf and Casey’s schedule.
Rizzo said Casey’s office was pleased to be invited by the governor’s office to attend the ceremony. He said Casey was already scheduled to be at the Vista School on Monday to offer remarks as part of Autism Awareness Month.
Baker said she received an email from the governor’s office following a conversation she had late Friday afternoon about the planned bill signing.
“Following up on our conversation, the signing will occur on Monday at 11 a.m. at the Vista School in Hershey,” wrote Nate Spade, the governor’s deputy secretary of legislative affairs.
“Does that indicate that it was a Senator Casey event?” Baker said. “No.”
Baker also said she received a call Friday from the ARC of Pennsylvania, informing her that the organization was notified that the bill signing had been set for Monday and its representatives had been invited to attend.
“At no time in my discussion with the governor’s office on Friday was it indicated to me that the event was being sponsored by Sen. Casey — only that he was invited,” Baker said. “We were notified that this would be the ceremony to sign the bill into law.”
Casey did commend Baker in a news release following the ceremony.
“I commend Gov. Wolf, Sen. Lisa Baker of Luzerne County, and all the members of the General Assembly for their work in making ABLE a reality in Pennsylvania,” Casey said.
Baker said it is customary to have the principals attend bill signings and she said the ABLE Act bill is “a significant piece of legislation for Pennsylvania.”
Baker, R-Lehman Township, was in Wilkes-Barre attending a luncheon honoring her Democratic colleague, state Sen. John Yudichak, D-Plymouth Township. Baker introduced Yudichak and presented him the agency’s “Commitment to Children Award.”
Baker said she was disappointed that she could not be in Hershey for the signing of the bill in to law that she said will spotlight the individuals, families and advocates responsible for achieving “this notable victory.” She said she wished she could stand with the dedicated advocates to witness the bill signing and to commend their efforts.
“By the time the bill signing was set, I was committed to an event held by the Children’s Service Center, an outstanding organization marking 154 years of effort,” Baker said in a post on her website. “A significant community gathering has to take priority over a more ceremonial one in Hershey.”
Baker did not say if she requested the bill signing event be rescheduled.
Jeff Sheridan, Wolf’s press secretary, said the bill signing ceremony was called by Casey, not the governor.
“We commend Senator Baker for her efforts to pass this important legislation,” Sheridan said. “We had hoped she would be able to join us today and are sorry she could not attend the signing. The governor joined an already scheduled event at the Vista School with Senator Casey, the prime sponsor for this legislation in Congress, and various legislators.”
In February, Baker’s husband, Gary, was fired from his $95,355 per year job as northeast regional director of the Scranton office of the state Department of Community and Economic Development — a job he held for 14 years.
Baker claimed the termination was a directive from Wolf. Just days before her husband was terminated, Baker sent out a news release raising her concerns about Wolf’s decision to veto $5.7 million for the state’s 13 critical care hospitals —two of which are in her senatorial district. Baker called Wolf’s veto “ill-advised and harmful.”
Sheridan would not comment on Baker’s claims that her husband’s firing was political retribution, saying it was a personnel matter.
Under the ABLE Act, accounts can be used for a wide range of disability-related expenses including health care, housing, and transportation without jeopardizing eligibility for important programs on which individuals with disabilities must often depend.
“Pennsylvanians with disabilities can now achieve greater fiscal self-sufficiency, without the risk of impacting their eligibility for benefits,” Wolf said in an emailed release. “I am proud to sign this bill today and continue our work to help individuals with disabilities stay in their homes and communities.”
Baker said the recent passage of the ABLE legislation is a major advance for the families of individuals who have a disability.
“Advocates of this legislation included a number of individuals from our area,” Baker said in a news release. “In our conversations, they made a strong case for the necessity and opportunity wrapped in this legislation. The calls that have come in since the measure was sent to the governor are touching reminders of how our actions can positively affect lives. It was time that we acted consistent with our good intentions.”
