Harrisburg – Dec. 7, 2015 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) released the following statement after a $ 30.5 billion bipartisan state budget proposal cleared the Senate on a 43-7 vote today.
The spending plan includes a $ 460 million boost for education, an additional $ 300 million for human service programs, restoration of key job creation funds and it eliminates the $ 1.3 billion structural deficit that Gov. Tom Wolf inherited from the Corbett administration.
Though Brewster voted in support of Senate Bill 1073, the budget bill must be passed by the state House of Representatives and be signed by the governor in order for it to become law.
Brewster’s comments:
“The budget is now almost six months overdue and the whole process has been frustrating and difficult. The budget that the Senate passed today, with a strong bipartisan vote, invests heavily in education, safety net programs, job creation and it wipes away the $1.3 billion deficit that the governor inherited from the Corbett administration.
“This budget makes historic investments in education, provides key dollars for early childhood programming and boosts support for higher education. As important, human service fund restorations were included in this budget.
“There is a great deal to like about this approach to the state budget and I am pleased that it cleared the Senate and is poised for consideration by the House.
“Citizens have waited way too long for lawmakers to come together in support of reasonable state budget. It is now time to finish work on this budget so we can immediately help children, seniors and all taxpayers. “
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