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Long-awaited Hanover Township fire station project back on track

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Patrick Hamilton and Allan Austin: Resurgent Black Panther superhero reflects America’s struggle with race

Government can still work for you.As evidence, look at the legislation advanced in Pennsylvania last week that will ease many financial and emotional burdens carried by parents of children with disabilities. The PA ABLE Act, which is expected to quickly gain the governor&#8217;s signature and become law, received no dissenting votes as it moved through the state Senate last year, then the House on Monday.If only the same bipartisan spirit could surround budget bills, eh?In short, the ABLE Act allows parents to sock away money early in a child&#8217;s life so that he or she can afford to pay for future expenses: housing, medical, transportation, even education. Promoters, in fact, compare the new ABLE tax-free savings accounts to those 529 programs that encourage families to save for kids&#8217; college tuition.The federal government &#8211; yes, the same Washington, D.C., troupe often accused of doing nothing &#8211; paved the way in 2014 for each state to adopt its own law establishing an ABLE program and, in turn, allowing families to better prepare for a loved one&#8217;s long-term care. ABLE, an acronym for the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act, authorized necessary changes in the tax code.U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, championed the federal law, advancing the cause put forward by disability advocates. He introduced the measure in the Senate, while a Florida Republican did the same in the House. (For those of you scoring at home, that&#8217;s one Democrat and one Republican collaborating on one good idea.)In Pennsylvania, state Sen. Lisa Baker carried the torch for the life-enhancing program that one supporter said will &#8220;bring people with disabilities out of poverty.&#8221; Baker, R-Lehman Township, was the state Senate bill&#8217;s prime sponsor. &#8220;I am so proud to be a part of this collaborative effort,&#8221; she said last week. &#8220;&#8230; We managed to reach common ground by using common sense to achieve a victory that is well earned and much needed.&#8221;Participants will be able to deduct ABLE account contributions, up to $14,000 per year, from Pennsylvania taxable income. Among the program&#8217;s other benefits:&#8226; Savings will grow tax-free.&#8226; Withdrawals will be exempt from federal and state income tax when used for qualified expenses.&#8226; Funds will be excluded from eligibility determinations for Supplemental Security Income benefits (savings up to $100,000), Medical Assistance and other means-tested federal programs.&#8226; Accounts will be exempt from inheritance tax.Disability advocates, including families who faced daunting financial hurdles, had long spoken up for some sort of solution. Government listened and ultimately responded with the federal ABLE Act and companion state laws. Isn&#8217;t that the purpose of public service &#8211; helping people?Let&#8217;s hope lawmakers at all levels see and seize more opportunities to do the same. And soon.

Our Opinion: Passage of state’s ABLE Act proves lawmakers capable of good work; let’s see more of it