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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Mike O’Brien |
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O’Brien: state budget maintains emphasis on education and economy
HARRISBURG, Feb. 5 – State Rep. Mike O’Brien, D-Phila, said he is pleased with Gov. Ed Rendell's plans for Pennsylvania as outlined in today's 2008-09 state budget address.
Rendell proposed a $28.3 billion budget, an increase of $1.1 billion, or 4.2 percent, over 2007-08.
The Philadelphia School District, which has a $2.18 billion budget, would receive about $86 million, or a nearly 6 percent increase, in basic education funding. Rendell also is seeking an additional $12 million, or 16 percent increase, for Pre-K Counts.
"As with last year, the real excitement for me lies in education, with targeted investments in proven pre-school programs and the first step toward addressing the need for a better school funding system as outlined in the recent 'costing-out' study," O'Brien said.
The "costing-out" study released in November called for greater and more equitable funding of public schools. The report said the state underfunds schools by about $4.38 billion.
To stimulate the economy, Rendell asked the legislature to enact within the next eight weeks a one-time rebate of up to $400 for 475,000 lower-income working families. He also asked for quick passage of an additional $750 million in funding to jumpstart $1.5 billion in community and economic development projects, including an Energy Independence Strategy to expand alternative energy and help consumers reduce their household energy costs.
"The governor's proposal offers immediate relief to working families struggling to maintain their bare-bones budget while offering businesses targeted incentives to not give in to the possible short-term economic slowdown and instead grow their businesses in a state that is in much better fiscal shape than New York, California and Illinois," O'Brien said.
"I look forward to working with the governor and House and Senate colleagues to enact a budget that balances the needs of working families and kids, including making health care more affordable, with the needs of business."
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