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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski |
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Pashinski rallies with county workers
to support funding for human service programs
WILKES-BARRE, Aug. 21 – State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, participated in a rally at the Luzerne County courthouse today to call on Senate Republicans to compromise and end the state budget impasse, which is now threatening to cause county human services cuts and worker layoffs.
Pashinski joined county officials and hundreds of human service employees and their clients at the rally.
"We must always remember that as each day passes where we don’t have a state budget agreement, it hurts our children and senior citizens," Pashinski said. "The time to end the budget impasse is now."
Pashinski and House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, have been working with county officials to explore options for the county human service programs to continue to operate until a final budget is passed.
"Thousands of people in Luzerne County and all across the state rely on these critical programs and services every day, and those programs are now in jeopardy of shutting down," Eachus said.
"We need to get this budget passed now, but we also need to do it right. House Democrats are fighting to save many of these programs from serious budget cuts being proposed by the Republicans, including cuts to child welfare programs and mental health and mental retardation programs."
Luzerne County Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla joined Pashinski and county workers at today's rally. She echoed Eachus' call for a responsible budget that protects children, seniors, veterans and individuals with disabilities.
"The time has come for Senate Republicans to replace partisan politics with true concern for Pennsylvania's families," Petrilla said. "I hope the state Senate will hear our voices and finally begin to negotiate in good faith so that our most vulnerable neighbors and relatives here in Luzerne County are not sacrificed."
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