Sep. 24, 2015
HARRISBURG – To prevent human services agencies from shutting down and to help schools stay open and provide textbooks to their students, Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks/144th) today voted in support of legislation designed to release emergency funding for entities across the state.
“Already, child welfare agencies have initiated a lawsuit against the governor because he has picked winners and losers in this too-long budget impasse,” said Watson, chairman of the House Children and Youth Committee. “While some programs regarding health, safety and welfare are being funded without an enacted state budget, child welfare services – which I also consider to be just as important – aren’t among them, and that is one of many reasons why I voted in favor of today’s emergency funding legislation.”
Senate Bill 1000 calls for four months of state appropriations totaling about $11 billion and is retroactive to the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1 through Oct. 31. Amounts are based on House Bill 1192, which was the budget proposal passed by the General Assembly in June and which included higher amounts for these line items than in 2014-15.
In addition, the emergency funding bill would allow $24.3 billion in federal dollars to reach their intended recipients, with PHEAA grants and county child welfare lines to be disbursed at 50 percent of their levels. The emergency funding bill would also allow non-public schools to order textbooks, since students have been without these necessary materials since the beginning of the school year.
“I am hopeful that the governor realizes that every choice he makes to deny funding to these human services agencies and schools has serious consequences on millions of people in this state,” Watson noted. “Every day he chooses to insist upon his massive tax increases on hard-working families, seniors and small businesses is another day in this impasse. I’m frustrated and disappointed, and I hope he makes the right decision to sign the legislation.”
Representative Kathy Watson
144th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jennifer Keaton
jkeaton@pahousegop.com
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