Budget proposal restores $3 billion for schools

To the Editor:
As Pennsylvania’s schools, hospitals, child advocacy centers and agriculture programs continue to be among those in most urgent need of state funding, I voted in favor of another budget plan to complete the 2015-16 state budget on Wednesday (March 16).

As I talk with people throughout the area about the ongoing state budget situation, they question how we can possibly start the coming year’s budget process when the current year’s budget hasn’t been finalized. That’s what the most recent budget proposal, House Bill 1801, seeks to do — complete the 2015-16 budget. No responsible debates should occur about next year’s budget until this one is finished.

House Bill 1801 funds items that were cut by Gov. Tom Wolf as part of his Dec. 29 line-item veto, without the broad-based tax increase the governor continues to demand. It notably restores more than $3 billion in funding for basic education vetoed by the governor. The total state investment in basic education increases by $200 million over last year to a record $5.93 billion.

The restoration of funding also ensures rural hospitals, burn centers and other specialty care programs can continue serving patients and that vital agriculture research, extension and 4-H programs will not be forced to shut down.

The plan spends $30.031 billion, which equates to a $872.6 million increase over 2014-15, about a 3 percent increase. It spends $238 million less than House Bill 1460, the budget plan which the governor vetoed portions of in December. This plan spends within revenues that are available and does not rely on new taxes.

PA State Rep. Rosemary Brown (R-Monroe/Pike)