Sep. 24, 2015
HARRISBURG – Rep. Sandra Major (R-Susquehanna/Wayne) today voted in support of legislation to provide emergency state funding to human service providers and schools across the Commonwealth.
“We cannot continue to let our rape crisis and domestic violence centers, child advocacy centers and other essential programs that serve our most vulnerable populations suffer during this ongoing budget impasse created by Gov. Tom Wolf,” said Major. “Many programs are reducing services, cutting hours and furloughing staff, and some are even contemplating closing their doors due to a lack of state and federal dollars on which they rely. This emergency funding would give them the relief they need and ensure essential services continue to flow to those in need while a final budget agreement is hammered out.”
Funding contained in the emergency funding bills includes state appropriations amounting to $11 billion, which would cover the timeframe of July 1 to Oct. 31. In addition to four months (or 33.3 percent) of state aid, the emergency funding bills would allow $24.3 billion in federal dollars to reach their intended recipients, and PHEAA grants and county child welfare funding would be disbursed at 50 percent.
“This impasse is the direct result of the governor’s complete veto of a state budget back in June,” said Major. “If he had used his authority to line-item veto the roughly 30 percent of the budget that was in disagreement, our human service agencies would not be in this situation. I am hopeful the governor realizes the devastating impact this withholding of funds is having on those seeking help through these programs and signs the emergency funding package into law. It is time he puts people above politics, as this funding would not diminish our need and urgency in reaching a final budget agreement.”
Representative Sandra Major
111th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tricia Lehman
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