Sep. 24, 2015
HARRISBURG – Rep. Rosemary M. Brown (R-Monroe/Pike) joined the majority of her House colleagues in voting in favor of providing some emergency funding for school districts and agencies that are struggling to make ends meet as a result of the ongoing state budget impasse.
“The emergency funding bill we passed today essentially would provide funding for struggling schools and agencies in our state until a final budget is approved,” Brown said. “This is our third attempt to get state funding to the people who need it the most. It could very easily be at least another month, or more, before a full budget plan is negotiated and passed, which is why it’s important that we get a portion of the funding to them now. It is very frustrating that the governor continues to block this.”
The funding plan the House passed today includes state appropriations amounting to $11 billion, retroactively to July 1 and carrying through to Oct. 31. In addition to four months (or 33.3 percent) of state aid based on House Bill 1192’s levels (which are higher than the 2014-15 state budget), the emergency funding bill would allow $24.3 billion in federal dollars to reach their intended recipients, and PHEAA grants and county child welfare funding will be disbursed at 50 percent.
Brown explained that this emergency funding issue is beginning to hit home. The following entities have reported they will each be in trouble in the coming weeks and months without state funding: Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission, Christian Awareness Ministries Ecumenical Food Pantry, Monroe County Meals on Wheels, Safe Haven of Pike County, and many more human service agencies.
“The people who depend on these services that are in financial jeopardy do not deserve to be negatively impacted as a result of the budget impasse,” Brown said. “I am hopeful that the governor will agree, and that he will sign this emergency state funding plan as soon as possible. I am encouraging all affected agencies to contact the governor and ask him to support this emergency funding.”
The General Assembly passed a balanced budget plan on June 30. Within the same hour, the governor vowed to veto the plan, even though 274 out of 401 line items were greater than (or equal to) what he requested. The House came back to session in August to attempt to override some of the vetoes – only including line items all parties agreed on – but the House Democrats blocked the votes. House Republicans again voted in favor of funding these schools and agencies suffering from financial struggles.
For more information about this issue, or any state-related issue, contact Brown’s district office in East Stroudsburg located at 696 Seven Bridge Road, Suite 101, by calling 570-420-8301. Information can also be found on online at
RepBrown.com or
Facebook.com/RepRosemaryBrown.
Representative Rosemary M. Brown
189th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Krisinda Corbin
717.705.2032
KCorbin@pahousegop.com
RepBrown.com /
Facebook.com/RepRosemaryBrown