UBI in Pennsylvania? House Democrats Begin Floating the Idea

Is Universal Basic Income a good idea for Pennsylvania?

Of course it’s not. It’s not good for anyone.

But that’s not stopping some Pennsylvania House Democrats from floating the idea of it.

A co-sponsorship memo was circulated starting Wednesday from 3 Democrat Representatives from Philadelphia County that calls for the Dept. of Human Services to “conduct a study and issue a report on the efficacy of a universal basic income pilot program.”

The study would also be charged with determining which Pennsylvania municipalities could start a UBI program.

Reps. Ben Waxman, Morgan Cephas, and Christopher Rabb began circulating the memo on Wednesday looking for co-sponsors. All 3 represent districts in deep-blue Philadelphia County.

In their memo, it reads, “As the cost of living continues to rise throughout our country, more and more Americans are supportive of giving a monthly amount of money to every adult resident regardless of employment through a type of program known as universal basic income.”

Their memo also states that a UBI in Pennsylvania would follow the lead of 20 other cities in the US which have started a UBI pilot program. They cite the alleged success of a universal basic income program in California, saying it “improved job prospects, financial stability, and an increased overall well-being.”

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