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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2009
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Senator Orie Says She Will Fight For a "Sensible, Practical
and Within our Means" Spending Plan
"The Governor's budget proposal of increased spending by $1.26 billion (4.6
percent), new taxes, the expansion of gambling and too much reliance on federal
assistance for the next two budgets is unacceptable," according to Senator Jane
C. Orie, Majority Whip. Senate Republicans will carefully study and provide
constructive and critical comments on the $28.9 billion general fund budget for
Fiscal Year 2009-10 budget unveiled by Governor Rendell today.
"As long as the General Assembly and the Administration put the taxpayers
above political rhetoric, this process will produce a sensible, practical
2009-2010 budget," Senator Orie said. "We will need to work together to develop
a final budget that enables Pennsylvania to weather the current economic crisis
and meet the needs of working families and protecting jobs; however, we must
not abandon our fiscal responsibility and adopt a budget that is within our
means."
The Governor is now projecting a $2.3 billion shortfall, and that is just
over 8 percent of the total revenues that Pennsylvania had expected to take in
during the current fiscal year.
The Governor's budget proposal includes tax increases, burdensome expansion
of government programs, an ill-conceived notion of legalizing video poker
machines in establishments that hold liquor licenses to provide tuition
assistance for higher education and $54 million in funding for the continued
development of graduation assessments for high school students.
The proposed budget does include the elimination of 101 line items and
reductions in 346 other line items, including some grant programs. "While this
is a good step, we must be sure that these cuts are prudent and appropriate,"
said Senator Orie.
The proposed budget includes a $300 million (5.4 percent) increase in Basic
Education Subsidies for Pennsylvania's public schools for a proposed total of
$5.86 billion. Special Education funding would remain at the current level of
$1.02 billion.
Funding for State System of Higher Education universities would also remain
at its current level of $498.5 million. Community colleges would see a $5
million (2 percent) increase for a total of $241.2 million. State-related
universities are facing a 6 percent reduction in funding and state-aided schools
face a 10 percent decrease in funding.
The Senate's review of the budget will formally begin on February 23 with two
weeks of hearings conducted by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The state's
current fiscal year ends on June 30.
Contact:
Mike Sarfert, Chief Counsel
(717) 787-6538
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