Mar. 18, 2016
HARRISBURG – State Rep. Harry Lewis Jr. (R-Chester) today voted in favor of a supplemental budget that would make historic education investments, reverse debilitating budget cuts made by Gov. Tom Wolf and spend responsibly by not requiring any new taxes.
“Even people who are fully dedicated to distancing themselves from party politics in favor of representing the needs of Commonwealth citizens can find endless budget negotiations to be challenging,” Lewis said. “However, today the House came together to pass a budget that would drive out necessary funding. With the governor’s signature, we will be able to move past this impasse and completely focus on other important state issues.”
House Bill 1801 includes a $200 million increase for basic education funding over the previous budget. It would also restore millions of dollars that the governor cut from higher education in the Commonwealth, including for community colleges and the State System of Higher Education. The bill fully funds the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University, Lincoln University and Pennsylvania State University – providing a 5 percent increase for the institutions over what was allocated the previous fiscal year.
“I am privileged to serve on the board of trustees for Lincoln, so I am intimately aware of the struggles that higher education institutions have been facing for the past eight months in the absence of state funding,” Lewis said.
In addition to allocating substantial funding to education, the budget would also restore the governor’s cuts to services that benefit Pennsylvanians, including critical access hospitals, burn centers and child advocacy centers.
While making notable education investments in both basic and higher education as well as reversing cuts to vital community assets, the budget would only be a 3 percent increase over the 2014-15 budget and would require no new taxes. Instead, it would balance with funds that have been unused in the General Fund as well as spending reductions.
As House Bill 1801 passed on concurrence in the House, it now goes to the governor for consideration. For more information on the budget, please visit
pahousegop.com.
Representative Harry Lewis
74th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Alison Evans
717.260.6206
aevans@pahousegop.com
RepLewis.com /
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