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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Mike Sturla |
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Sturla responds to Senate-approved budget
HARRISBURG, May 9 – State Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, the chairman of the House Democratic Policy Committee, released the following comments in regards to the Senate-approved budget plan (S.B. 1466), which now moves to the state House for consideration.
“Governor Corbett’s budget, which included recurring cuts from last year plus additional cuts to basic education, human services, higher education and other areas again this year, was a seriously flawed proposal that the Senate decided to adopt as its starting point. To then call the newly-approved Senate plan a ‘restoration’ is an example of newspeak that would even make George Orwell’s head spin; the Senate budget simply includes partial restorations of this year’s cuts while including all the massive cuts from last year.
“The Senate budget plan still includes unacceptable cuts to programs for our most vulnerable, leaving our counties and service providers to make unfair and unnecessary choices as to who receives care and who does not, and how much to raise local taxes to cover the shortfalls. Cuts will simply lead to elevated costs in the future.
“Choosing to cut business taxes while institutionalizing the billion-dollar cut to public education from last year’s budget, which has had an enormous impact on working Pennsylvanians in every corner of the state, is poor prioritization. It puts corporate profits ahead of the needs of working people in Pennsylvania.
“Further the Senate, like the governor, has decided to punt on the looming transportation crisis haunting the Commonwealth.
“With revenue collections improving for the past few months, we do our residents a disservice to approve any spending plan in advance of next month’s collections. The Senate has continued its modus operandi of passing a measure and promptly leaving town. More discussions need to occur between all four caucuses in order to arrive at an agreeable plan.”
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