Toohil Supports Supplemental Budget Bill to Keep Schools Open
HARRISBURG – Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) today joined a bipartisan majority of her colleagues in passing a supplemental spending bill that would complete the 2015-16 state budget. House Bill 1801 now heads to Gov. Tom Wolf for his consideration.
The governor vetoed more than $6 billion in funding for schools, universities, hospitals, corrections and agriculture from the General Assembly-approved budget in December. This legislation would restore much of that vital funding without any new or increased taxes.
Toohil issued the following statement regarding passage of the bill:
“Time and time again, we have sent the governor a budget to no avail, which has created the very real threat that schools across the Commonwealth will soon be closing when their state funding runs out, including some school districts in Luzerne County.
“This proposal, which would increase basic education funding by more than $200 million, ends the threat of school closures. We urge the governor to sign the bill so that our children can stay in the classroom, where they belong.
“This is a scary time for students, their families and their teachers because of the uncertainty created by the governor’s veto of $3 billion in education funding. But he can ease their anxiety with a stroke of a pen. We encourage him to do that and hold them hostage no longer.”
The proposed 2015-16 budget totals $30.031 billion, which is $872.6 million, or 3 percent, more than the 2014-15 spending plan.
Representative Tarah Toohil
116th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Contact: Rep. Toohil’s Office, 717.260.6136
RepToohil.com /
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