FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Rep. Pamela A. DeLissio D-Montgomery/Philadelphia www.pahouse.com/DeLissio

DeLissio challenges Corbett to open up budget process

HARRISBURG, June 22 – With about a week to go before the end of the fiscal year, state Rep. Pamela A. DeLissio, D-Phila./Montgomery, encouraged Gov. Tom Corbett to exert leadership and support to provide a fair budget process for all citizens of Pennsylvania.

In a letter to Corbett, DeLissio said:

"This letter is to express my dismay and frustration on behalf of myself and the residents of the 194^th Legislative District. My frustration centers around the less than democratic process by which the budget, among other legislative initiatives, is negotiated and accomplished.

"The budget is one of, if not the most important responsibility of the General Assembly. I have commented consistently about the process in the General Assembly and my frustration with the lack of inclusion of stakeholders in legislative initiatives and public policy development. In reference to the budget the minority party is indeed a stakeholder. The minority party represents 45.5 percent of the citizens of the Commonwealth, yet the minority party has been and continues to be excluded from budget discussions and negotiations.

"My testimony at the Appropriations Committee hearings in March spoke about the lack of inclusion in last year's budget discussion and stated that I sincerely hoped that the process would be different this year. The process has not changed. The process as it is currently unfolding is unacceptable. Excluding representatives of 5.7 million citizens is unacceptable.

"You are the governor of all the citizens of Pennsylvania. Your leadership and support is essential to ensure a fair process for all citizens to be heard. Thank you for calling upon the majority party to include the minority party leadership, and by extension, the members of the minority party, in the budget process."

DeLissio has encouraged her constituents and all other Pennsylvanians who share her concerns to contact the governor. Final debate on the 2012-13 budget is expected next week.