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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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Majority
Leader Bill DeWeese |
  
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House Democratic leaders tout budget investments
HARRISBURG, July 4 – The Commonwealth’s 2008-09 budget maintains the state’s commitment to education while investing in alternative energy, infrastructure and economic development programs all in the midst of a downturn in the national economy, according to House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, Whip Keith McCall and Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Todd Eachus.
"The House Democratic Caucus stood strong with Governor Edward G. Rendell in his commitment to fund our state’s educational system by making it our priority," said DeWeese, D-Greene/Fayette/Washington. "We ensured that our public schools can continue programs that are proven to work, including valuable pre-kindergarten classes for our earliest learners."
The $28.2 billion budget grows below the 4.2 percent rate of inflation and does not raise taxes.
"Thanks to the good decisions and prudent budgeting of last year, Pennsylvania is more financially stable than other states," DeWeese said.
The Democratic leaders said the state’s energy strategy will move the Commonwealth toward independence from foreign oil, with investments in and incentives for in-state generated alternative fuels and energy.
"The single biggest expense affecting working families today is the cost of energy and we've taken historic steps toward declaring our energy independence with these initiatives," said McCall, D-Carbon. "We're going to invest in our best and brightest and promote innovative power generation and technology created right here in the Keystone State, generating power and high-tech, high-wage jobs."
The energy plan invests $650 million in a mix of commercial and consumer efforts designed to help large companies, small businesses and homeowners take advantage of alternative energy technology. Projects will range from investments in cutting-edge research to energy-saving weatherization efforts and tax credits for alternative energy products and programs. Also, the measure includes funding for the nation’s first standards for harnessing cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel as motor fuels – putting Pennsylvania farmers to work harvesting crops that will be the low-emission home-grown fuel of the future.
State legislators and the governor also agreed to provide significant funding for bridge repairs, water and sewer projects, high-hazard dam improvements and other community revitalization and economic development endeavors that will create thousands of jobs.
Eachus expressed concern that the issue of expanding affordable health care was not addressed by the Senate.
"Providing health insurance to the hundreds of thousands of working people who can't afford to get sick was, unfortunately, not part of this budget," said Eachus, D-Luzerne. "But, rest assured, the House Democratic Caucus is going to spend the summer taking this issue to the people of the state and we plan to aggressively work to deliver access to health care for all working people when we return in the fall."
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CONTACT: Bob Caton 717-783-1375 |