Dush Signs on to Rescue Budget Legislation to Keep Education and Human Services Funding Flowing
HARRISBURG – In an effort to keep education and human services funding flowing throughout the current and all future state budget negotiations, Rep. Cris Dush (R-Jefferson/Indiana) has joined with more than 40 of his House Republican colleagues in supporting legislation that would establish a 10-month Rescue budget.
“The purpose of this soon-to-be-introduced legislation is to create an untouchable funding lifeline so that essential revenue dedicated for both our schools and human service agencies can never again be held hostage by the governor or the Legislature as a means to extract more revenue from state taxpayers,” said Dush. “After all, this funding is already available in our state treasury, and is desperately needed by the programs serving our most vulnerable citizens. It should be completely removed from the table as a crisis-driven negotiating chip during partisan or hostile budget negotiations.”
This legislation would direct all general appropriations for 10 months ending on May 1, 2016, based on existing revenue streams (including non-tax revenues) and cost savings, previously set forth in
House Bill 1460, (as passed by the House on Dec. 8, 2015). As this 10-month rescue budget simply directs the Commonwealth’s spending, no new taxes or other revenue enhancements would be required. Schools and human services would be immediately funded in a manner that releases federal tax dollars and the EITC grant monies that have become so important to schools.
Once the 2015-16 state budget is finalized, negotiations for the 2016-17 state budget could begin immediately following the governor’s annual budget address in February.
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Representative Cris Dush
66th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Ty McCauslin
717.772.9979
tmccausl@pahousegop.com
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