Dinniman: Budget Must Hold Line on Taxes, Invest in Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2009

CONTACT: ADAM CIRUCCI                
PHONE: 610-692-2112     
acirucci@pasenate.com                                                                

State Senator Andy Dinniman said Wednesday that the upcoming budget must hold the line on taxes, while maintaining investments in education and providing important tuition relief to thousands of Pennsylvania college students.

“Pennsylvania, like other states, cities and families across the nation, is paring down and cutting expenses. There is no question that these are difficult times, and difficult decisions need to be made,” Dinniman said. “However, the current economic downturn presents us with real opportunity to eliminate any wasteful spending and refocus our priorities on the most essential functions of government. We are already doing more with less, and the drive to do so will prepare the Commonwealth to emerge from this crisis stronger than ever.”

In response to a projected budget deficit of $2.3 billion, Governor Ed Rendell announced Wednesday that his 2009-2010 budget proposal calls for nearly $1 billion in cuts to state spending compared to the current year.

However, Dinniman said that an area where Pennsylvania cannot afford to cut funding is in both basic and higher education, which will be a crucial factor in rebuilding the economy.

“We can achieve the growth we need to pull the Commonwealth out of this recession by making higher education more affordable and rebuilding our intellectual infrastructure. That is why continued investments in education and tuition relief are vital to both long-term economic growth and a brighter future for thousands of Pennsylvanians,” Dinniman said.

For more details, contact Adam Cirucci in Senator Dinniman’s office at 610-692-2112 or e-mail acirucci@pasenate.com.

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