Oct. 02, 2015
MEADVILLE – With a rally scheduled today at 3 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Erie to push for the enactment of a state budget in Harrisburg, state Rep. Brad Roae (R-Erie/Crawford) issued the following statement:
“I share the disappointment of residents who are upset that state dollars are being withheld from schools and social service agencies.
“The state House and Senate worked together last month to adopt an emergency state funding bill that would have released money to schools, rape crisis centers and other agencies that serve Pennsylvanians in need. Governor Tom Wolf vetoed that bill this week.
“This marked the fourth time our efforts to release this money were thwarted.
“The state House and Senate in June approved a balanced, on-time state budget that would have increased funding for local schools without raising taxes. Governor Tom Wolf vetoed it.
“My colleagues and I hoped we could work with House Democrats in a bipartisan manner to overturn the governor’s budget veto and release funds for vital public services. Instead of cooperation, the effort resulted in a partisan vote and the money could not be released.
“Budget negotiators offered the governor a compromise that would have increased funding for some of his priorities while avoiding a tax increase. Governor Wolf rejected it.
“Our fourth effort took the form of the emergency state funding bill that would have released dollars to schools and social service agencies while a final budget agreement was negotiated. The governor announced this week he would veto the bill and withhold the funding.
“The state budget continues to be delayed because the governor is insisting on raising taxes in our area to bailout the Philadelphia school system. The governor wants to raise taxes on local workers and senior citizens and send that money to Philadelphia.
“While the governor has proposed a new tax on energy harvested in Pennsylvania, that proposal only accounts for approximately 3 cents out of every new dollar in taxes Wolf is demanding. The other 97 cents would be paid by working Pennsylvanians, senior citizens and other people in our Commonwealth.
“Despite the fact that Governor Wolf has consistently rejected compromises and solutions, I will continue working with my colleagues in an effort to release the money that has been withheld by his vetoes.”
Residents who would like to learn more about Roae can visit his website at
www.RepRoae.com or follow him on Facebook at
www.Facebook.com/RepRoae.
Representative Brad Roae
6th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Dan Massing
717.772.9845
dmassing@pahousegop.com
RepRoae.com /
Facebook.com/RepRoae