Aug. 25, 2015
HARRISBURG – In helping to get state funding to those most in need, Rep. Marguerite Quinn (R-Bucks) issued the following statement after casting several votes in the state House to override portions of the governor’s 2015-16 state budget veto:
“Due to the budget veto, many of our human service agencies are not receiving their state funding and have been either forced to take out loans or reduce services – impacting real people with real issues. Among those hardest hit are those who help individuals in crisis, and it’s imperative that we get their money flowing to them as quickly as possible. And that’s why we’re in Harrisburg today – to get this moving in the most expeditious manner possible.
“Our job is to help real people with real problems with real solutions, and if we need to attempt an override in order to facilitate this funding, we should do everything within our power to do so.
“Many of the human service line items we attempted to override contained equal or greater funding than originally proposed by the governor, and several others were designed to get money flowing to both public and parochial schools, the latter of which has been unable to order necessary textbooks which with to start the school year.
“Unfortunately, the line items were unable to obtain the required two-thirds votes needed to proceed to the Senate, but I am hopeful that today’s action underscores the need faced by these vital programs and services. It is my hope that the House will now consider House Bill 1487, which I authored to address an impasse and to ensure vital funding is driven out to our vulnerable constituents.”
House Bill 1487, introduced in July, would amend the Fiscal Code to provide the Treasury Department with the authority to make lines of credit available to counties, municipalities and school districts under its investment authority. This would give counties and school districts direct access to money that they will eventually receive, without commercial market rates for the loan and debt service. The bill includes language to reimburse costs incurred as a result of the impasse, and would provide our human services the money they desperately need for the continuity of care for our constituents.
Representative Marguerite Quinn
143rd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Ryan Travis
rtravis@pahousegop.com
RepQuinn.net /
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