Dinniman Thanks Employees at Southeast Veterans Center
Hospital Staff Has Not Been Paid Since July Due to Budget Impasse

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2009

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

EAST VINCENT (July 31) – State Senator Andy Dinniman visited the Southeast Veterans Center today to thank state employees for continuing to serve veterans over the past month despite not getting paid due to the state budget impasse.

“The people here have acted heroically in taking care of the veterans who have taken care of us,” Dinniman told employees he met during his floor-to-floor tour of the center. “I want you to know that I am very proud of you for rising to the occasion and doing what is right.”

Dinniman toured the center and expressed his gratitude to employees.

“Our veterans deserve the best in medical service. It’s a testament to the dedication of the staff of the Southeast Veterans Center that employees have continued to provide top quality care, even when they are not collecting paychecks,” he said.

Dinniman and his staff have been in regular contact with Commandant Rebecca Kesselring over the past month to discuss the status of the budget and operations at the veterans center. Commandant Kesselring noted that in spite of the difficult conditions, her staff has continued to deliver the highest medical care and service to our veterans.

“The staff of the Southeastern Veterans Center, along with the 77,000 employees statewide who have not been receiving paychecks since July, deserve our appreciation for continuing to do their jobs so well,” Dinniman said.

Dinniman also urged the House to approve Governor Rendell’s stopgap plan that would provide interim funding for core state services and resume pay for state employees. If that happens early next week, it would then take about five days for the state Treasury to process checks, including back pay, for state employees, meaning they could begin receiving checks as early as July 12.

“No matter where you stand on the budget, there is no reason why state employees should be held hostage by politics,” Dinniman added.

As a thank you to center employees for their hard work in the face of difficult circumstances, the Chester County Gleaning Program, which Dinniman helped found more than a decade ago, will be delivering fresh produce to employees on the afternoon of Monday, August 3.

For more information, call Adam Cirucci at 610-692-2112 or e-mail acirucci@pasenate.com.

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