May. 04, 2015
Democrats vote against $100 million increase to education
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HARRISBURG – A party line vote against a $100 million increase to education left Rep. Jim Christiana (R-Beaver/Washington) puzzled at a meeting of the House Education Committee today. Christiana, who proposed
House Bill 752 to increase the amount of available tax credits for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs, offered the following statement:
“Every year at budget time we hear from folks across the aisle that we are not spending enough money on education. There has been rhetoric criticizing imaginary cuts to public education funding and cries to rescue disadvantaged children trapped in Pennsylvania’s failing schools. Today, I offered legislation that would make available an additional $100 million in scholarships to benefits students in public and private schools, pre-k programs and the lowest-achieving 15 percent of our public schools. The $100 million increase in funding would be directed to proven programs that have received widespread bipartisan support in the past and have effectively allowed children to excel academically in alternative learning environments. The Democrat rhetoric was not met with reality today, despite the fact that this important bill gives those who have been shouting for more spending what they have been demanding for years.”
House Bill 752 was approved by a vote of 18-8 and is expected to be considered by the full House next week. Reps. Pat Harkins (D-Erie) and Dan Miller (D-Allegheny) voted in favor of House Bill 752.
Representative Jim Christiana
15th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Abbey Haslam
717.260.6222
ahaslam@pahousegop.com
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