|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State
Rep. Kenyatta Johnson
|
|
Rep. Johnson reacts to passage of 2009-10 state budget
HARRISBURG, Oct. 13 – State Rep. Kenyatta Johnson, D-Phila., released the following statement on the $27.8 billion General Fund budget signed by the governor late last week.
"The General Assembly has passed a balanced budget that makes investments in the people of Pennsylvania without increasing taxes. This is good news for my constituents in the 186th Legislative District in areas like education, health care and energy independence."
"It was a long, hard process, but I felt it was important for me to hang in there and fight for the priorities of my constituents."
On child care assistance:
"One of the groups most impacted by the budget impasse was child care providers in our community. I am pleased that they will now receive the funds they need to provide such crucial services to the youth of our city."
On education:
"Thanks to the House Democrats' commitment to education in Pennsylvania, our state's 501 school districts – including those in Philadelphia – will see billions of dollars in education funding, including ample funding for Pennsylvania's pre-k programs."
"This budget preserves the programs that have been most effective in increasing student achievement, maintaining funding levels for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts at $86.4 million and Accountability Block Grants at $271.4 million, which are responsible for nearly doubling the proportion of kindergartners in full-day programs."
On seniors:
"I am also pleased that this spending plan provides for Pennsylvania's senior citizens, who can rest assured we are maintaining their health care coverage. Those who rely on PACE and PACENET prescription coverage will not have to worry about losing their coverage."