Lancaster County House Republican Delegation Supports Emergency State Funding Legislation
9/24/2015
HARRISBURG- The Lancaster County House Republican Delegation voted today to approve emergency funding for struggling social service agencies and schools. The legislation, Senate Bills 1000 and 1001, would provide four months of funding for government operations applied retroactively to the beginning of the fiscal year July 1 through Oct. 31. This legislation would release $11 billion in state and more than $24 billion in federal funds. The bills are being sent to Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk for his signature into law, following a party line vote in the House of Representatives.
State Reps. Bryan Cutler (R-Peach Bottom), Mindy Fee (R-Manheim), Keith J. Greiner (R-Upper Leacock), Dave Hickernell (R-West Donegal), Steve Mentzer (R-Lititz), Brett Miller (R-East Hempfield) and Dave Zimmerman (R-East Earl) issued the following statement following today’s vote to approve emergency funding:
“Today, we voted to provide emergency funding for critical human services, education and government operations for four months while negotiations on broader budget issues continue. Gov. Tom Wolf’s complete veto of the state budget on June 30 has had a serious impact on Lancaster County and communities across the Commonwealth.
“Last week, we met with more than 50 representatives of human service organizations, the directors of Lancaster County’s social service agencies and the county commissioners to discuss the impact of the budget impasse. And the response was loud and clear; Lancaster County human service providers are struggling financially without state reimbursements. They need funding, and they need it now. Today’s vote would provide them the funding they need to continue providing services to our most vulnerable citizens.”
“Our Democratic colleagues today decried the lack of budget and the corresponding lack of funding for our service providers, but yet they have voted not once, but now twice to deny funding to these very same agencies and schools. The governor continues to trumpet his $12.7 billion tax hike, but fails to recognize the importance of reforming the long-term cost drivers, such as the state’s pension plans.”
“Last week, during a press conference, Gov. Wolf indicated that he would veto any short-term emergency funding and said it was ‘pathetic.’ Gov. Wolf then said he was ‘sympathetic’ to the communities devastated by his complete budget veto. If the governor decides to veto this legislation, he will have shown that his sense of sympathy is in word only. It is not enough to be sympathetic; the governor must act and sign this emergency funding measure to stop harming our communities.”
Lancaster County House Republican Delegation
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Eric Reath
717.260.6187