Jun. 30, 2016
HARRISBURG – State Rep. Joe Emrick (R-Nazareth) joined members on both sides of the aisle Tuesday in supporting
Senate Bill 1073, the key piece in the package of legislation that forms the 2016-17 state budget. If approved by the state Senate, the bill would be sent to Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk for his signature into law.
Emrick issued the following statement upon passage of the bill:
“Senate Bill 1073 becoming law would represent an historic investment in public school education, including a $200 million increase in basic education funding for a total investment of $5.89 billion. The money will be distributed using the bipartisan Basic Education Funding Commission formula which was signed into law a few months ago. This formula finally addresses the funding inadequacies that cheated the schools in the 137th District over the last 20 years.
“Schools in the 137th Legislative District will receive the following increases:
• Bangor Area School District - $249,825
• Easton Area School District - $823,361
• Nazareth Area School District - $286,780
“Along with the pension reform bill (Senate Bill 1071) awaiting Senate approval that will save $5 billion, Senate Bill 1073 protects taxpayers by addressing the school pension crisis – the primary driver of property tax hikes – through a current proposal to dedicate increases in the tobacco tax to the Public School Employee Retirement System (PSERS).
“This legislation includes a combination of new non-tax revenues such as long overdue liquor reform and a tax amnesty bill that will allow individuals to file tax returns in exchange for reduced fees and interest on past-due taxes. What is does not include are the Personal Income Tax and sales tax increases from Gov. Tom Wolf’s wish list.
“Senate Bill 1073 also targets the opioid epidemic by appropriating $5 million to the Department of Drug and Alcohol prevention for emergency addiction treatment and another $10 million to the Department of Human Services for behavioral health services.
“It was said many times on the floor during debate that no budget bill is perfect. This legislation is the result of a bipartisan compromise where both sides gave up something as part of the negotiating process. I hope my Senate colleagues see it that way as well and move the bill to Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk.”
Representative Joe Emrick
137th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Scott Little
slittle@pahousegop.com
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