Can Earned Income Tax Credit help struggling working Pennsylvanians?

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

 Kimberly Paynter / WHYY

Pastor Vito Baldini is a pastor with the Liberti church network. He’s organizing volunteers to deliver boxes of food to seniors during the coronavirus pandemic.

Airdate: Monday, January 31, 2022

The United Way of Pennsylvania says a refundable Earned Income Tax Credit would go a long way toward helping working families, who are still struggling to afford essentials like food and housing.

The United Way says research they commissioned indicates the refundable EITC would actually cost the state less in the long run and have the economic benefit of more spending by those that receive the benefit.

We’ll learn more about the proposal on Monday Smart Talk from Kristin Rotz, United Way of Pennsylvania President and PA 211 Executive Director and United Way Public Policy Director Phil Falvo.