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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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House
Democratic Caucus |
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House Democratic leaders praise Governor Rendell's 2009-2010 budget plan
HARRISBURG, Feb. 4 – House Democratic leaders said today's budget address by Governor Ed Rendell outlined a commonsense plan to address a tough economic picture by cutting spending by nearly a billion dollars, not raising broad-based personal or sales taxes, cutting taxes on businesses by $400 million and restoring the state's economy in the face of a multibillion dollar projected deficit.
"While Pennsylvania is in better financial shape than many other large states thanks to years of balanced budgets, this spending plan includes some tough decisions and substantial cuts that are going to be the key to creating jobs and maintaining the vital services we'll need to get our economy on the right track," House Speaker Keith McCall, D-Carbon, said. "Among the key components in the plan are infrastructure investments -- nearly half a billion dollars in funding for road and bridge repairs, as well as long-overdue improvements to water and sewer systems. This funding will help to create hundreds of thousands of jobs, while making sure we have the infrastructure we need for homes and businesses in all parts of the state."
"Health care is economic development, and this budget delivers an increase of $800 million to make sure our most vulnerable citizens have access to a doctor when illness strikes," House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, said. "When jobs are lost, in many cases so is health insurance coverage, so that job loss has twice the impact on our state and in too many cases leads to bankruptcy. This funding – a mix of state and federal dollars -- will help make medical care available for children, for our seniors and for people of working age who have lost their jobs. The choice is simple: we can pay a little now, or we can pay a lot later when these people have nowhere else to turn and have to use the emergency room as the 'family doctor.'"
The lawmakers said that the plan also includes an increase in funding for basic education that will help school districts reduce the property tax burden, and new investments in higher education to help prepare workers for high-tech, high-wage careers. Additionally, the plan continues the Democratic commitment to helping small businesses by continuing the phase-out of the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax -- boosting business tax cuts to $2 billion over the past six years.
"This budget reflects many of our policy priorities," House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia, said. "Even in this tough economic climate, the governor gave us a proposal with bold ideas. He was right to do that because it provides the basis for our debate in the coming months. I think we need to view this budget, in particular, as one that gives us an opportunity to shape how Pennsylvania government operates, not just next year, but over the next several years."
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Contact:
Bob Caton, Speaker's Office 717-783-1375 bcaton@pahouse.net
Bill Thomas, Majority Leader's Office 717-787-2229 wthomas@pahouse.net
Johnna Pro, Appropriations Chairman's Office 717-783-1540 japro@pahouse.net