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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Keith McCall |
  
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McCall supports Gov. Rendell's call for budget cuts
HARRISBURG, Dec. 3 – State Rep. Keith McCall said Gov. Ed Rendell's call today for an additional $128 million in budget cuts -- bringing the total of proposed cuts in state government operations to more than $439 million – will have a positive impact on the state's financial health.
"It's no secret that this is going to be a very difficult budget year, just like it's a tough year for working families statewide and nationwide," McCall said. "That's why House Democratic Leadership chose to return a cost-of-living adjustment and that's why we're closely examining our operation to see where we can make deep and substantive cuts to save taxpayers money.
"In these tough times, government can and should set an example, and I commend the governor for his leadership role."
Today, Rendell outlined some of the cuts to the budget he is proposing, including:
· Freezing pay increases for non-union employees starting in 2009;
· Asking 51 administration employees to follow the lead of the House Democratic Leadership and return their COLAs to the treasury.
Earlier this year, Rendell announced $311 million in spending cuts, implemented a hiring freeze for state workers and banned out-of-state travel.
Pennsylvania state revenue collections so far this fiscal year are $657 million below estimates – a reduction of 6.8 percent from last year.
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