DeLuca: What Does The Budget Say About Us as a Commonwealth?

State Rep. Tony DeLuca, D-Penn Hills, said he has serious concerns about the budget proposal being offered by Gov. Tom Corbett and Republican leaders in the General Assembly.

"We are expected to vote on a final budget next week," said DeLuca, "and I am concerned about what the governor's proposal does to hurt the people of Pennsylvania."

DeLuca, Democratic chairman of the House Insurance Committee, issued the following statement on Thursday: "Republicans currently control Pennsylvania’s government. Gov. Corbett has large Republican majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly and can pass legislation without any bipartisan support. Unfortunately, this has enabled Gov. Corbett to propose a budget that ignores the needs of millions of Pennsylvanians."

Among DeLuca's points:

Corporate Tax Breaks—"Any shortage of state revenue this budget cycle is directly the result of Gov. Corbett’s policies that give multi-billion dollar tax breaks and incentives to large corporations, particularly those in the oil and gas industry. In fact, the only budget priority the governor has continually advocated for is a $1.7 billion tax break for a highly profitable oil and gas company. I support tax incentives for small businesses, but the governor and his Republican allies should not be proposing billion dollar tax breaks for corporations when they are cutting funding to programs that help the middle class."

Public Education—"School districts across the commonwealth are in crisis, teachers are being laid off by the thousands, classroom sizes are increasing, kindergarten and other valuable programs are being eliminated. Yet, Governor Corbett’s budget proposal again reduces state funding for basic K-12 education. The Republican cuts in state funding will force school districts to make up the difference with local funding, which means more property tax increases are on the way. Gov. Corbett must rethink his approach to education funding and stop relying on local property taxes."

College Affordability—"The governor’s proposed budget cuts higher education funding by $250 million. These cuts will force tuition increases at state institutions such as the University of Pittsburgh, California University of Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock, Clarion and Penn State. At the same time, the governor and Republicans in the legislature are proposing a reduction in the amount of state grants and aid available to Pennsylvania students who are struggling to afford college. The governor and his Republican allies need to start investing in our future workforce and stop making it more difficult for families to send their children to college by restoring the cuts they have made to higher education."

Human Services—"The governor’s proposed budget reduces funding for county human services programs by 20 percent. These programs include services for mental health and mental retardation, domestic violence, seniors and disabled residents. The governor’s cuts to county programs will force more of seniors into nursing homes and deprive thousands of our most vulnerable citizens of the care they desperately need. Gov. Corbett and legislative Republicans should find some compassion and adequately fund the programs for our sick, disabled and elderly neighbors."

Pennsylvania’s Roads and Bridges—"Gov. Corbett’s budget proposal fails to address Pennsylvania’s transportation funding crisis. With close to 5,000 structurally deficient bridges and no set source of funding to repair crumbling state roads and highways this issue should have been a priority for the governor and Republicans in the legislature. Yet, for the second year in a row Republicans in Harrisburg have done nothing to fix our infrastructure. I fear the governor will fail to fund our transportation needs until a bridge collapses or a serious tragedy occurs on our roadways."

"I realize that during this budget cycle tough choices must be made, and that these decisions will impact lives across the commonwealth," DeLuca said. "However, Gov. Corbett and his Republican allies in the legislature need to put the rhetoric aside and start making budget decisions that are in the best interests of all Pennsylvanians and not just the oil and gas companies."