State lawmakers and advocates call for ‘People’s Budget’ focused on equity, inclusion and transparency

HARRISBURG, Feb. 10 – One week after Gov. Tom Wolf announced his budget priorities, Rep Fiedler joined nearly 30 state lawmakers and advocacy groups to call for a People’s Budget process, so Pennsylvanians can voice their budget priorities. Together they called for a more transparent process that brings equity and inclusion front and center.

“Across the commonwealth we’re all connected by common human needs for a home, a good school for our kids, health care that won't bankrupt us, a job where we’re treated with dignity and respect,” said Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., chair of the House Democratic Policy Committee’s Subcommittee on Progressive Policies for Working People. “We’ve been told for so long that the status quo is the best we can get, but that is not true. Our state’s budget is built using taxpayer dollars and those same working people deserve to have a voice in how their public money is spent.”

In their announcement statement, the lawmakers indicated they support many things in the Governor’s budget, and that the People’s Budget represents a long-term vision to create a more open process for allocating public taxpayer dollars. The People’s Budget will build on work that has been done by legislators and advocacy groups in previous sessions.

Learn more about the People’s Budget here.