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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Ted Harhai |
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Harhai says GOP-imposed budget assaults taxpayers from all sides
HARRISBURG, June 30 – State Rep. Ted Harhai, D-Fayette/Westmoreland, today charged that homeowners got mugged when the governor and the GOP majority in the General Assembly imposed a budget on the commonwealth that will rob local property taxpayers and bludgeon programs that have benefited veterans, seniors, children and the disabled.
"To state that this budget is short-sighted is a gross understatement," said Harhai in submitted remarks. "Already, three-quarters of Pennsylvania school districts have announced that they will be forced to raise taxes next year, thanks to the failure of state government to properly fund public education.
"This is surely an anti-education budget that forces public schools to eliminate programs, eliminate classes, eliminate activities, and finally, eliminate educational opportunities normally available to our children in public schools in the commonwealth"
Harhai warned that in addition to forcing school districts to turn more to property taxes now and in the future, it will have an immediate negative economic impact.
"Approximately 11,000 teachers and school staff will lose their jobs," Harhai charged. "How does this help our educational system and our push for economic development? This is definitely the WRONG time to be putting more Pennsylvanians out of work and attempting to dismantle public education in the process."
Harhai said that a somewhat brighter spot in the budget was a partial restoration of funds for Community Based Family Centers. Gov. Corbett proposed elimination of funding altogether, but the Senate and House restored slightly more than half of what the centers had been allocated in 2010-11.
The centers provide counseling and coordination of services for eligible families, covering such areas as parenting skills, adult education services, life skills training, and healthcare information and child development services.
"I know how much our family centers have assisted children and younger parents in overcoming challenges. They make a difference in guiding families and individuals away from public assistance and toward becoming contributing members of our communities," said Harhai. "Ever since the governor announced he was eliminating support for family centers, I and Rep. Deberah Kula (D-Fayette/Westmoreland) pressed hard to get the funding reconsidered. The result got half of the past funding restored, and that will help keep the most vital resources available to those who need them."