Mar. 16, 2016
HARRISBURG – To keep schools open, agriculture programs operating and health care available to rural residents, Rep. Tedd Nesbit (R-Mercer/Butler) today voted in support of legislation to restore many of the budget line items cut by the governor in December.
Without this critical state funding to finish out the fiscal year, schools may have to close, agriculture programs may be discontinued and several health-based services may not be available to patients in need.
“The supplemental budget bill we sent to the governor today keeps schools open and vital agricultural services functioning, among other necessary programs,” Nesbit said, noting that the governor’s line-item vetoes hit rural areas particularly hard. “The fact that these entities – along with child advocacy centers, regional cancer institutes, critical access hospitals and poison control centers – are in jeopardy without their state allocations is unconscionable. The governor chose to cut these line items, specifically because of their value in our communities.”
The funding restorations in
House Bill 1801 bring the 2015-16 state budget total to just over $30 billion, a 3 percent increase over the 2014-15 fiscal year, along with another $200 million in public education. That includes a 5 percent increase for higher education as well.
In addition, the budget bill includes funding for agriculture programs, such as Penn State’s agriculture research and extension services and 4-H Program, among others. Child advocacy centers, critical access hospitals, regional cancer centers and burn centers would also see their state allocations restored.
Nesbit pointed out that all of the restorations are included in a budget that responsibly balances without the need for a broad-based tax increase.
“At this point, the administration is critical of our good-faith efforts to restore these cuts and to ensure that our children are being educated,” Nesbit continued. “If the governor vetoes yet another attempt to fund critical state functions, I will be extremely disappointed that he would put political pressure above keeping schools open and other vital services available. We need to put the people ahead of politics.”
Representative Tedd Nesbit
8th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jennifer Keaton
(717) 705-2094
jkeaton@pahousegop.com
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