Jun. 25, 2019
HARRISBURG — Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement in response to passage of the Fiscal Year 2019-20 state budget:
“I’m pleased to support another no-tax or fee increase state budget that continues Pennsylvania on a path to economic prosperity and sets the Commonwealth up for long-term success.
“We were again able to increase funding for prekindergarten through 12th grade education. For Fiscal Year 2019-20, it will total an extra $432 million. In addition, we are continuing the $60 million school safety grant program. As a member of the School Safety and Security Committee, I have seen firsthand the important improvements these grants have funded. Career and technical education, which is essential to preparing our young people for unfilled family-sustaining jobs available today, received an additional $10 million. Finally, we restored the governor’s cuts to our important agriculture industry and increased funding by $19.5 million. This includes three new programs – livestock and consumer protection, animal health and diagnostics commission, and agriculture business and workforce investment.
“We were able to do all of this and more despite spending $149 million less than the governor proposed in February. While no plan is perfect, I am confident this budget responsibly spends taxpayer dollars and will meet the needs of the residents in the year to come.”
For more information on 2019-20 state budget, visit
pahousegop.com.
The 46th Legislative District includes Collier and South Fayette townships and Bridgeville, Heidelberg, McDonald and Oakdale boroughs in Allegheny County. It also encompasses Canton, Cecil, Mt. Pleasant, Robinson and Smith townships and Burgettstown, McDonald and Midway boroughs in Washington County.
Representative Jason Ortitay
46th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
tpolovick@pahousegop.com
RepOrtitay.com /
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