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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Tom
Andrews 717-783-4267 |
Majority Leader Bill
DeWeese |
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New state budget reflects Democratic priorities
HARRISBURG, July 16 – House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese and Whip Keith McCall said today’s passage of the 2007-08 state budget represents House Democrats’ commitment to establishing a responsible spending plan while tackling the weighty issues of health care and education.
“House Democrats stood firm in our belief that any austere budget also needed to address our suffering health-care system, investments in early education and energy independence. Just as important, the budget has no tax increases, leaves us with a healthy surplus of cash for next year and sets us up for an even brighter future,” said DeWeese, D-Greene/Fayette/Washington.
The $27.16 billion budget represents a 3.2 percent spending increase from the current year.
"Throughout this budget process we stood by the disabled, those who care for the disabled, seniors and children, and we did so while living within our means and not raising taxes,” said McCall, D-Carbon. “This is a budget package we can be proud of, one that lays a strong foundation to build upon the principles that drive us. We will remain vigilant, and continue our pledge to perform for all Pennsylvanians. There is much more ahead to accomplish for our constituents.”
The Democratic leaders said a Special Session on Energy will begin when the House returns Sept. 17.
“In February, Governor Rendell made some bold proposals to begin the process of reducing our Commonwealth’s reliance on oil from the Middle East. We took a few steps toward that goal this week and we’ll sharpen our focus even further on energy independence in the fall,” McCall said.
DeWeese added that property taxes, open records and campaign finance reform also will be at the top of the House agenda in September and October.
“My colleagues and I have been studying these matters in a bipartisan manner this spring and we hope to announce a compromise property tax reduction plan in the coming weeks. Many legislators arrived in Harrisburg in January with property taxes as their No. 1 concern. We have given the matter its due diligence and its time to take the next step in offering some solutions to the statewide phenomenon that has plagued the state for decades,” DeWeese said.
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