Jun. 20, 2018
HARRISBURG – The state House on Wednesday gave overwhelming approval to a 2018-19 state budget proposal that includes no new or increased taxes and makes significant investments in education and public health and safety, said Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint).
The $32.7 billion spending plan reflects an increase of 1.7 percent over the current year, which is below the rate of inflation. The measure now goes to the Senate for its consideration.
“This is a responsible budget that keeps spending in checking while investing in core functions of government, including education, health care and public safety,” Causer said. “I believe it also addresses several of our priorities in rural Pennsylvania.”
House Bill 2121 invests a record-high $12.3 billion in preK-12 education. Basic Education Funding is increased by $100 million to $6.095 billion; early childhood education funding for Pre-K Counts and Head Start programs by $25 million to $251.5 million; and special education funding by $15 million to $1.14 billion. A $60 million block grant will provide funding to schools for safety initiatives, and $30 million will be invested in career and technical education to help prepare students for the jobs of today and tomorrow.
Higher education institutions will also see an increase in funding under the bill, including the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, which will receive $2.8 million, a 3 percent increase.
For rural health care, the budget includes more than $10 million for critical access hospitals, a 4.8 percent increase in funding. It also provides a mix of state and federal funds to provide a much-needed increase in Medicaid reimbursement rates for ambulance companies, many of which have been struggling to keep their doors open to continue their life-saving services.
As chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, Causer also praised the investments in the state’s agriculture industry. The proposal restores funding for several initiatives that would have been eliminated under the governor’s proposal, including hardwoods research and promotion. It increases funding to combat the spotted lanternfly, which could affect the hardwoods industry if it spreads from southeastern and south central Pennsylvania, and to address invasive species. Penn State Extension will get a 3 percent increase, as well the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School and the Center for Infectious Disease.
Causer is also pleased the budget sends money into the Commonwealth’s Rainy Day Fund for the first time in a decade.
More information about the budget is available at
pahousegop.com.
Representative Martin T. Causer
67th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Patricia A. Hippler
717.772.9846
phippler@pahousegop.com
RepCauser.com /
Facebook.com/RepCauser