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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Josh Shapiro |
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Shapiro legislation to reform PHEAA approved by committee
HARRISBURG, Nov. 20 – Today, Rep. Josh Shapiro’s bill to reform the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (H.B. 1891) was approved by the House Finance Committee by a vote of 26-1.
Shapiro’s proposal, supported by over 60 co-sponsors, would require greater disclosure by PHEAA and its foundations, and would ban some of the lavish and reckless spending shown to occur at PHEAA in recent years.
“To make college more affordable and accessible for Pennsylvanians, PHEAA needs to end its spending on bonuses, getaways and promotional items and use that money to help students pay for college,” said Shapiro, D-Montgomery. “As it becomes more expensive to go to school in Pennsylvania, it’s in the best interests of our young people, our economy and our Commonwealth to give students all the help we can to get a college education.”
An ongoing investigation by the auditor general and recent reports by Pennsylvania news outlets have shed light on some of PHEAA’s outrageous spending practices, including $7.5 million spent on bonuses since 2004, $2.2 million on promotional items over five years, and over $860,000 on lavish retreats.
“The $2.5 million paid in bonuses in 2007 to 325 employees could have instead provided maximum awards of $4,500 to 555 students,” Shapiro explained.
Shapiro’s legislation would ban spending on bonuses, retreats and promotional items, and direct that money back to aid for students. House Bill 1891 would require PHEAA and its foundations to itemize travel expenses and certain expenses over $50. It also would require PHEAA and its agencies to be subject to the Right-to-Know law.
Shapiro is deputy speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and represents the 153rd Legislative District in Montgomery County. For more information about Shapiro, please visit www.pahouse.com/Shapiro.
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CONTACT: Matt Vahey Phone:
717-783-7619 |