Jun. 27, 2015
HARRISBURG – On a predominately part line vote, the state House today passed
House Bill 1192, the primary budget legislation for fiscal year 2015-16, according to state Rep. Curt Sonney (R-Harborcreek). The bill may now be taken up by the state Senate, which anticipates a vote on final passage this Tuesday, the final day of the current fiscal year.
The budget proposal would spend $30.18 billion and features no tax increases or new taxes while again increasing basic education funding for Pennsylvania school districts. Sonney issued the following statement after passage of House Bill 1192:
“Today we moved legislation to the state Senate that continues the responsible spending practices that have begun to turn around the Pennsylvania economy. House Bill 1192 supports essential services, expanding them in many cases. It makes another record-setting investment in basic education funding while avoiding an historic set of tax increases in order to again increase support for Erie County schools.
“This budget proposal reaches out to those in need with significant increases in insurance programs and services. More than 15,000 additional children would be covered by CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program), and more than 4,200 additional senior citizens, more than 2,000 individuals with physical disabilities will be added to the rolls through program expansion.
“House Bill 1192 also takes into account those who are and have been there in our time of need. Veterans’ homes received a 10 percent increase in funding and 350 new state troopers will monitor our highways in 2015-16 if this bill is signed into law.
“I know my colleagues in the Senate will act quickly on this legislation. It can then be passed to Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk so we can avoid a government shutdown.
Representative Curt Sonney
4th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Scott Little
slittle@pahousegop.com
RepSonney.com