Aug. 25, 2015
HARRISBURG – Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Berks/Lehigh) and a majority of his colleagues in the state House today in Harrisburg voted to override the governor’s veto of state appropriations for students, rape victims and cancer patients, among others.
The measures did not receive the two-thirds vote necessary to override the governor’s veto.
“We are working in the state Capitol to responsibly fund schools and social service agencies negatively affected by the governor’s veto,” said Mackenzie. “There is relatively broad agreement on funding for these areas of the budget. We are working to release the funding for these important programs and services.”
The state House and Senate in late June approved a balanced, on-time state budget that would have funded the core functions of government, increased investment in education and required no new or increased taxes.
Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed the entire plan.
The Commonwealth has been operating without a state budget since July 1, when the new fiscal year began.
The House votes today would have overridden the governor’s veto for specific appropriations in the state budget.
The specific appropriations were ones that were agreed upon by the Legislature and the governor. Each appropriation was the same amount or would have provided more funding compared to the governor’s original budget proposal.
The House voted on funding for rape crisis and domestic violence services; cancer screening services; services for children with special needs; health care programs; and grants for students attending colleges or universities.
“Our goal was to work with our Democrat colleagues in a bipartisan manner to release this funding,” Mackenzie said. “We are trying to unwind the gridlock caused by the governor’s budget veto.”
Representative Ryan Mackenzie
134th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Ryan Travis
rtravis@pahousegop.com
RepMackenzie.com /
Facebook.com/RepMackenzie