Pressure Builds for a Better Budget

As the June 30th budget deadline approaches, talks are underway to see if we can refocus the priorities of the two most-written-about budget proposals.

Gov. Tom Corbett’s stunning cuts to education—without consideration of new revenue sources—was followed up by an only slightly less destructive plan passed by the House Republicans.

In the meantime, Pennsylvanians have made themselves loud and clear: Adopt a fair, loophole-free tax system and use the growing surplus before cutting money for students.

Over the next two weeks, we will continue to increase the pressure to prevent short-sighted budgeting. If we’re going to employ Pennsylvanians across the Marcellus Shale formation, it makes no sense to stop investing in the education and training of workers.

And it makes no sense to strip healthcare insurance for 40,000 working Pennsylvanians, while allowing large corporations to enjoy huge tax breaks.

Senate Democrats have proposed a lean but not mean budget. One that sensibly uses part of the surplus to re-fund investments in the next generation threatened under the Republican plans.

To see the details of that plan, visit www.PaSenate.com.

- Sen. Tim Solobay, D-Canonsburg