Aug. 20, 2015
Media – Members of the state legislature, Delaware County Council, and non-profit human service providers held a press conference to call on the governor to release funding for critical human service programs under the health, safety, and welfare exemption outlined on the governor’s webpage.
On June 30th the governor made the decision to withhold state funding from county human service providers when he vetoed the entire state budget instead of exercising his power of a line-item veto in areas of the budget where there is disagreement.
The state continues to fund state parks and other less essential services while funding for court-mandated child placement services, domestic violence centers, Delaware County’s anti-poverty agency, and the local Family Support Line, that helps children that are victims of sexual abuse, are not receiving state funds due to the governor’s decision to withhold funding.
“The governor did not have to choose to withhold funding from these important human service providers. The governor’s decision to use these service providers as leverage in his effort to gain support for his budget and tax proposal is unacceptable,” said House Appropriations Chairman, William Adolph, Jr. (R-Delaware).
State Representative Tom Killion (R-Delaware) added, “We have an obligation to help these vulnerable citizens. It is reprehensible that the governor is willing to jeopardize these important services to create a crisis.”
County elected officials were also on hand to explain how the governor’s refusal to release state funds is impacting local communities.
“In Delaware County, our Department of Human Services provides critical programs for 38,000 children, families and individuals who are at risk, abused or vulnerable. During the budget impasse, we consider these services – from foster care to protection from abuse – to be essential to public health and safety and the governor needs to fund them now,” said Delaware County Councilman Michael Culp.
Councilman Culp added that the Office of Children and Youth Services serves 3,000 children who are abused or neglected, yet the governor has vetoed funding to keep them safe. “In the absence of a state budget, the governor needs to protect these children. This isn’t a partisan issue. It’s a moral issue,” Councilman Culp said.
“County Council stands with local service providers and their request to be funded as essential service while the state budget is delayed. The providers are anxious. We hear from our providers who face uncertainty in planning,” said County Council Chairman Mario J. Civera, Jr.
The county partners with many non-profit agencies to help children, people with disabilities, people with mental health issues, and others in crisis.
Council Chairman Mario J. Civera Jr. noted that Delaware County government is covering the human service gaps at a cost of $2 million per month, but cannot continue to shoulder that burden for long.
Rep. Adolph also explained that because the governor has refused to release these funds, the House of Representatives would return to session on August 25th to attempt to override the governor’s budget veto so critical funding can start to flow to court-mandated child placement services, domestic violence centers, anti-poverty programs, services for victims of sexual abuse, and many other human service programs.
“Overriding the governor’s veto is the right thing to do so that state funds can start to flow to service providers. I hope members on both sides of the aisle realize their obligation to support these service providers and vote to support overriding the governor’s unnecessary and irresponsible full budget veto,” said Rep. Adolph.
Representative William Adolph
165th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Michael Stoll
717.787.1711
mstoll@pahousegop.com
Representative Tom Killion
168th Legislative District
Media Contact: Donna Pinkam
717.260.6452
Delaware County Council
Media Contact: Trisha Cofiell
610.891.4943