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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Lawrence Curry |
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Curry votes for budget bill that invests in education,
spares arts organizations from unfair tax
HARRISBURG, Oct. 7 – State Rep. Lawrence Curry, D-Montgomery/Phila., released the following statement on the $27.8 billion General Fund budget bill the House of Representatives passed this evening:
"Without raising broad-based taxes on our citizens, the budget that we passed in the House tonight makes important investments in education, including funding invaluable early education programs such as Pre-K Counts that give children a jump on education by providing parents in participating communities access to full-day kindergarten or pre-kindergarten programs. It also would fund the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency so students wishing to go to college can find grants and financial aid.
"The plan would increase funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program that will ensure parents can take their child to see a doctor when he or she is ill. I was pleased that we continue funding for newborn screening programs that catch developmental problems early when treatment has a more positive outcome.
"I would like to point out that House Democrats removed the small games of chance tax from the Tax Code bill that would have hurt our volunteer fire departments, VFWs and other community organizations that use these games to fund their community service programs. And I am especially pleased we removed the tax on cultural venues such as admission to museums, zoos and theater performances – activities that enrich all of our lives.
"I am disappointed, however, that we did not go the extra mile to protect our state forests by imposing a severance tax on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale. But I believe we passed the best spending plan possible in these tough economic times."
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