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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Cherelle Parker |
  
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Parker comments on approval of 2008-09 state budget package
HARRISBURG, July 4 – State Rep. Cherelle Parker, D-Phila., made the following comments regarding the Pennsylvania legislature’s adoption of a no-tax-increase state budget package:
"One of the main priorities of this budget was to protect the progress that Pennsylvania has already made while moving forward with programs that will enhance our economy and help the people of this Commonwealth. We have positioned ourselves, because of the policies we have fought for in previous years, to be ahead of the curve nationally – which means we can continue to make modest gains in funding our public education system, promote economic development and infrastructure improvements, and make significant strides in advancing alternative and clean-energy production. And because of our solid state economy, we are making these investments without raising any taxes."
On education:
"Education is definitely the big winner in this year's budget package. The Philadelphia schools will receive an increase in basic funding of more than $50 million from last year. In addition, we are going to continue programs that are proven to be successful in advancing student achievement. Most importantly, we are once again investing in early education programs that give our kids a head start in learning, as well as the highly popular Classrooms of the Future technology program that brings learning into the 21st century. Adequately funding education is one of the most valuable investments we can make. This budget makes education our number-one priority."
On energy independence:
"As we celebrate the Fourth of July, I think it is definitely fitting that Pennsylvania is declaring its independence from high energy prices. Currently, we are spending more than $30 billion a year out of state to purchase energy. But in this budget, we are moving away from reliance on foreign oil and making investments in developing cleaner, more efficient energy right here in the Keystone State. The initiatives contained in this budget will make Pennsylvania a global leader in alternative fuel production, boosting our economy and creating thousands of jobs."
On economic development and infrastructure improvements:
"We have been able to weather much of the storm and are in better economical shape than many states across the country, mainly because of innovative and successful initiatives that invest in making Pennsylvania attractive to business development. This budget provides an injection of funds into economic and infrastructure development programs that will leverage millions more in private capital and encourage businesses to use existing land and facilities. Through an initiative I introduced this session, this budget package also expands the Keystone Opportunity Zone program, which retools old and abandoned industrial sites and prepares them for quality business development. We are continuing our investments in our communities and helping to protect our economic progress."
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