Gingrich Votes in Favor of Emergency Funding Plan
HARRISBURG – Rep. Mauree Gingrich (R-Lebanon) today voted in favor of an emergency funding plan for social service agencies that provide critical assistance to victims of domestic violence, rape and child sexual abuse, as well as the elderly and school children. The prolonged budget impasse has interrupted the flow of funding to these agencies, which serve the state’s most vulnerable citizens.
“Our schools and our critical human services programs are running out of money,” said Gingrich. “The governor, in good conscience, must seriously consider this opportunity to let revenue flow to our schools and those critical human services that our taxpayers provide. Money out of the pockets of our taxpayers continues to come into the state, yet the governor is preventing it from going to our schools, victim services and other critical needs. It is not right for our most vulnerable citizens to be held hostage because our governor is unable to negotiate a sensible budget.”
On June 30, the General Assembly passed a balanced, no-tax budget that provided fair funding for essential government services, but the governor vetoed it, despite the fact that about two-thirds of the budget lines contained in the bill matched or exceeded the governor’s own budget plan. With Gov. Tom Wolf determined to pass his massive $12.6 billion tax hike onto Pennsylvania taxpayers, House Republicans attempted to override his veto, but the override attempt failed when House Democrats – needed for the two-thirds vote needed - refused to support it.
“It has been a long three months without a budget and even longer for those human services providers who rely on state funding. Many are being forced to cut back on staff and services, and take out loans to continue operating,” said Gingrich. “Today, Senate Bills 1000 and 1001 passed the House by a party-line vote. These bills will restore funding for essential services through October while the legislative leaders and the governor continue to work on a final budget. The bills are now on the way to the governor’s desk.”
Representative Mauree Gingrich
101st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Donna Pinkham
dpinkham@pahousegop.com
RepGingrich.com