May 6, 2009 — Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Delaware/Montgomery, voiced his opposition to the preliminary budget bill proposed by the Senate majority and cast a “no” vote for the bill during today’s floor proceedings.
Leach noted that this fiscal year presents many challenges and difficult decisions to the General Assembly, but he reminded members not to lose focus on the goal of helping Pennsylvanians during this economic downturn.
“This is a tough year, and we've had to make tough choices, but many of the choices my friends on the other side of the aisle have proposed adversely affect the most vulnerable people in Pennsylvania,” Leach said. “When you look at the cumulative effect of this budget, it's our most vulnerable who bear the brunt of the service and program cuts.”
The bill proposed to substantially cut or completely eliminate line items such as the Juvenile Court Judges Commission, victims of juvenile crime programs, research based violence prevention, and evidence based prevention. It also proposed a $350 million cut from welfare and aging services, a $1 billion reduction for education, $4 billion cut from medical assistance and complete elimination in funding for library access and trauma centers.
“We could be earning valuable revenue by imposing new taxes, like those proposed for the smokeless tobacco and cigarette industry. Is cutting vital services to elderly and handicapped Pennsylvanians easier to do than adding ten cents to a pack of Red Man?” Leach continued, “We are cutting valuable programs, which will result in the federal government cutting those programs even more. Education funding, medical funding, public safety; these are the core functions of government. By striking down the idea of raising revenue in any way other than cutting funding for necessary programs, we are giving up our moral obligation to ensure that those core functions are adequately provided for.”
After a nearly four hour-long debate, S.B. 850 passed the Senate by a vote of 32-20 and now heads to the House of Representatives for concurrence.
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