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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Rosita C. Youngblood |
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Youngblood applauds timely budget passage, education aid increase
HARRISBURG, July 1 – State Rep. Rosita C. Youngblood, D-Phila., today said despite disagreeing with the cuts made in some areas, the overall package was an acceptable alternative to the months-long stalemate of last year, and joined in passing the 2010-11 spending plan approved in the House Wednesday.
"Nobody wanted a repeat of last year with its payless paydays for state employees and the suspension of benefits to citizens in a number of state programs," said Youngblood.
Gov. Rendell is expected to sign the $28 billion budget, which is roughly the same spending level as last year. The plan also reflects a $1.5 billion deficit from reduced state revenues. It contains no increase in taxes, but has cuts in public health and environmental programs, and a reduction in aid to libraries.
"We did work out compromises to lessen the impact of the cuts, though I would not have been averse to a tax on smokeless tobacco products to reduce the cuts further."
Youngblood emphasized a strength of the budget is its $250 million increase in the basic education subsidy to K-12 public education, which will result in an increase of more than $64 million, or 6.35 percent, for the School District of Philadelphia.
"We have seen much progress in redirecting our educational goals in recent years," Youngblood said.
"The education funding increase will prevent Pennsylvania from taking steps back from the progress, without placing an additional local tax load on homeowners and senior citizens."
In anticipation that next year's budget could present an equal or greater financial challenge, Youngblood said the Democratic and Republican caucuses in the House and Senate have agreed to pass a severance tax on Marcellus Shale natural gas production by Oct. 1 that would be implemented in January 2011.
Youngblood added that there remains a vulnerable spot in the new budget; that Washington will not come through with the full $850 million anticipated in Federal Medical Assistance Percentages program money. The funds are matching grants for expenditures in medical and social services. A lesser amount could have the legislature having to revisit the budget to make up for a significant shortfall.