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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Mark A. Longietti
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Longietti votes to approve 2009-10 state budget
HARRISBURG, Oct. 7 – State Rep. Mark Longietti released the following statement on the $27.8 billion General Fund budget the House of Representatives passed tonight:
"The budget is long overdue, but it reflects wise use of taxpayer money during this nationwide recession. It would spend less than last year, but would continue to make important investments, including many that I hope will benefit Mercer County.
"One of those areas is basic education funding, where House Democrats kept a pledge to add $300 million – important not only for students, but also for keeping property taxes in check. As part of this budget, an important education program, Science, It's Elementary, would be kept whole. This budget would also keep whole funding for important early childhood programs, including Head Start and Pre-K Counts.
"Hospitals, like Sharon Regional Health System and UPMC Horizon, would receive more than $300 million in supplemental payments in state and federal funds instead of taking very significant cuts under this budget. We also preserved important funding for job training and economic development programs that were facing steep cuts.
"Child Care Assistance, which helps fund day care centers, was funded at 90 percent of last year's level and we were able to add a small amount to Mental Health Services. Although it's a 0.2 percent increase, every little bit helps.
"Some areas, unfortunately, would be cut. Weed and Seed, which funds Sharon/Farrell Weed and Seed, would take a 63 percent cut. But we were able to keep some funding instead of eliminating it as was proposed.
"Another program that suffered is Mercer Community Education Council. I hope it's able to reopen based on the fact we secured $2 million for Community Education Councils.
"Meanwhile, House Democrats worked hard and succeeded in removing the taxes on small games of chance. That tax was unfair to nonprofit community organizations that provide scholarships and help meet community needs.
"Now I hope the Senate will join us in passing this budget so it can go to the governor's desk quickly."
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