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O'PAKE SAYS
NO-TAX-INCREASE BUDGET IS A GOOD START
Harrisburg,
February 5, 2008
-- With a
sputtering national economy, Senate Democratic Whip Michael A. O'Pake
(D-Berks) today commended the Governor "for holding the line on taxes"
in his new $28.3 billion 2008-09 state budget and "for his advancement
of a state-initiated economic stimulus plan to help Pennsylvania, its
people and its businesses weather the national economic downturn."
O'Pake noted that while other large states like California,
New York, New Jersey and Florida are currently facing multi-billion
dollar deficits, "Pennsylvania's budget is in balance, we will end the
current budget year June 30 with a responsible surplus, and we're
holding our own despite the federal government's retreat from funding
its responsibilities to the tune of more than $3.2 billion over the past
six years."
O'Pake said that "while the precise details of the
Governor's economic stimulus package will need to be hashed out, I'm
pleased that the governor is focusing our attention in this direction to
supplement whatever the federal government enacts."
He noted that he was "particularly encouraged that, even
during these difficult economic times, the Governor has found a way to
provide significant new investments in education." Pre-K to 12
education funding is boosted by $470 million to $9.8 billion, with a
$291 million, or 5.9% increase, in the basic education subsidy alone.
"The more state funds we can provide to our schools the
better able our school districts should be in holding the line on
property taxes," O'Pake said.
While the Senator continues to press for action on a plan to
once and for all eliminate the burden of homeowner school property
taxes, O'Pake said he was pleased to learn today that "a projected $672
million from gaming will be available for distribution to provide
property tax relief to all Pennsylvania homeowners this summer."
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