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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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House
Democratic Caucus |
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Pa. House moves forward with responsible, balanced Democratic budget
Democratic lawmakers united in defeating Republican proposal slashing state services
HARRISBURG, July 16 – The Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus today successfully defeated an effort by House Republicans to significantly weaken a Democratic proposal that would provide a responsible, balanced state budget, while also continuing Pennsylvania's investments in education, health care, the environment and job creation.
During the almost six-hour debate, dozens of House Democratic lawmakers stood up to express their concerns and opposition to the Republican amendment to H.B. 1416. The floor speeches highlighted the Republican amendment's failure to adequately address the pressing needs facing Pennsylvanians in today's economic recession.
House Majority Leader Todd A. Eachus, D-Luzerne, said the Republican amendment did not meet the very basic needs of Pennsylvania's citizens. He said the amendment would have had devastating effects on Pennsylvania's children, working families and seniors. It also would have shifted the state's responsibility to fund basic education to local school districts and would have caused property tax increases throughout the state.
"The Republican amendment ignored basic needs for our most vulnerable citizens, slashing access to health care – including the Children's Health Insurance Program – and eliminating core services for seniors and individuals with disabilities," Eachus said. "We're talking about real people who rely on these services every day to survive and to live productive lives.
"In this difficult economy, it is more critical than ever that we pass a responsible budget that includes strategic cuts that show leadership, responsibility and compassion – while also making strategic investments in Pennsylvania's future," he continued.
House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans, D-Phila., said the Republican amendment was little more than a warmed-over version of S.B. 850, the Senate Republicans' budget proposal, which would cause catastrophic harm to Pennsylvania. Many citizens and advocates from across the state opposed the Senate proposal because it cut funding for essential state services.
"The House Republican amendment would have forced local communities to raise their taxes and would not have adequately funded the programs and services necessary to meet the needs of all Pennsylvanians," Evans said. "I believe the Democratic proposal addresses the needs and priorities expressed by the Pennsylvanians we talked to over the last seven months. It addresses basic education. It funds health care services for our most vulnerable seniors, the disabled, children and veterans. It makes investments in our communities."
Now that the Republican amendment has been defeated, H.B. 1416 – the only responsible, balanced budget plan – will be considered on final passage tomorrow.