|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
CONTACT: Ruth
A. Myers |
State Rep. Ted Harhai |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Harhai calls for action on state budget
HARRISBURG, July 7 – State Rep. Ted Harhai today called on legislative leaders and the governor to continue negotiations on the 2007-08 state budget as long as necessary to reach an agreement:
“I know that my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate are unified in our commitment to deliver programs and services that the people of Pennsylvania say they support. Without our efforts, no one would be talking about improving health care in Pennsylvania, or funding a solution to our transportation crisis, or making the state more energy independent,” Harhai said.
“The spending plan that we sent over to the Senate did not include a tax increase. We have acted responsibly from both a fiscal and moral standpoint. We cannot accept a budget that would make substantial cuts in education spending, work-force training, environmental programs, or child-care services. I find it hard to believe that the Senate majority party would remove this vital funding and expect everyone else to agree to it.
“The governor is not making any outrageous requests when he insists that vital issues and programs be addressed as part of the budget talks. The feedback that I’m getting from my constituents tells me that they support these programs, and they want this budget done.
“I am also speaking today out of concern for the thousands of state workers who will be furloughed on Monday if this impasse continues. They aren’t just in Harrisburg, they’re all over the state, including in my district. I know that the uncertainty of their job status is overwhelmingly stressful. However, we are accountable to more than 12 million people across the state who are counting on us to do our jobs, and it is my hope that those involved in these negotiations remember that and dedicate themselves to maintaining an active dialogue in the coming days.”
###ram/2007/mjh
l:\print\releases\BudgetStatus.058