Pickett Seeks to Ensure Human Services Funding Through Override Attempt
HARRISBURG – In seeking to ensure state funding for a number of human service agencies in the 110th District and across Pennsylvania, Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) today cast several votes in historic attempts to override the governor’s veto of numerous line items in the 2015-16 state budget.
“Our actions today were an honest attempt to move the process along and get some cash flowing to the organizations assisting those with the greatest needs,” Pickett said. “At the same time, our votes demonstrate the continued feelings of our residents who are clearly opposed to the administration’s taxes, want government to live within its means and keep state spending in check.”
The override votes, which needed a two-thirds supermajority of 136 votes to pass, failed along party lines.
Pickett emphasized that the $34.8 billion budget proposal advanced by the governor contains $12.8 billion in new or increased taxes for two years, putting the burden squarely on working families and senior citizens. Among those taxes are a 20 percent increase in the income tax and a higher and expanded sales tax on items such as day care, nursing home care, college textbooks and room and board, and a host of personal items and non-prescription medications.
“Along with those human services, parents of college students and others who are impacted by this budget impasse, I’m just as frustrated as they are,” she said. “I’m hopeful the governor can begin to see where we’re coming from, and understand that his tax proposals have absolutely no support. Once he makes that realization, I believe we can end this impasse and move on with the business of our Commonwealth.”
Representative Tina Pickett
110th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
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