Jun. 27, 2015
HARRISBURG – Rep. Craig Staats (R-Bucks) today voted with the majority of his House colleagues to approve a $30.18 billion state spending proposal that includes a $200 million increase to public education without raising taxes. The budget plan now goes to the Senate and is on track to be presented to the governor before the June 30 deadline.
“Negotiations with the governor stalled when he refused to back off his historic tax increases, despite the fact that every Republican and Democratic House member voted against the governor’s tax plan when it came up for a vote earlier this month,” Staats said. “House and Senate leadership got together and agreed to forge ahead with a responsible budget that respects taxpayers and increases opportunities for students at every level, from pre-kindergarten to higher education.”
The $30.18 billion budget represents a 3.6 percent increase over last year and includes no new or increased taxes. By contrast, Gov. Tom Wolf’s $33.8 billion budget proposal called for a 16 percent increase in state spending supported by $8 billion in new taxes in the first two years.
The plan’s historic increases in public education funding include an additional $100 million for basic education; $25 million for pre-K Counts and $5 million for Headstart; $20 million for special education; $5 million for the Education Improvement Tax Credit; $41 million for higher education; and $2.1 million for the Mobile Science and Math Education programs line item, which Wolf eliminated in his budget proposal.
“This budget makes significant investments in education, fully funds human services programs and public safety while holding the line on taxes.” Staats said. “I’m proud to advance this pro-jobs, fiscally responsible budget, which puts us on track to meet our constitutional responsibility to send a balanced budget to the governor by June 30. A government that works requires a budget that is signed. The governor should sign this budget and show that he supports hard-working Pennsylvania families and businesses.”
Representative Craig Staats
145th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jonathan Anzur
717.260.6610
janzur@pahousegop.com
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