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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Tom
Andrews 717-783-4267 |
Majority Leader Bill
DeWeese |
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Democratic leaders optimistic about new budget plan
HARRISBURG, Feb. 6 – House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese and Whip Keith McCall expressed cautious optimism about today’s bold $27.3 billion state General Fund budget proposal offered by Gov. Ed Rendell.
“Governor Rendell laid out an ambitious plan that accelerates property tax cuts for every homeowner, reinvents and reforms the state’s health-care system and builds on already historic investments in education,” said DeWeese, D-Greene/Fayette/Washington. “At the same time, the governor proposed an important initiative to develop an Energy Independence Fund that focuses on conservation and economic development to make Pennsylvania a nationwide leader in alternative energy.”
“The governor also offered important solutions to address the public transportation funding crisis, which is a statewide problem that affects everyone, not just those in our largest cities,” said McCall, D-Carbon, a former chairman of the House Transportation Committee. “In the coming weeks, members of the House Appropriations Committee will dissect and discuss the budget during important televised public hearings with every state agency.”
DeWeese and McCall said the budget makes smart investments for all Pennsylvanians, but the state must balance the investments with the sacrifices that residents and businesses are asked to make.
“We enter this budget season with high hopes, but we also understand that costs are rising at a rate that far exceeds growth, and federal funds from Washington, D.C. are dwindling – more than $2 billion has been lost since 2002,” DeWeese said.
“House Democrats returned to the majority this year with a renewed commitment to bipartisanship. As we open the door to a new way of doing business, we hope our colleagues will follow our lead and we’ll avoid a stalemate this year and finish the budget on time,” McCall said.
The House Appropriations Committee begins its four-week public hearing schedule Feb. 14. The schedule can be accessed here.
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