Harrisburg, February 5, 2013 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today provided the following reaction to Gov. Tom Corbett’s 2013-14 budget proposal:
“While I am pleased that after largely ignoring the state’s biggest problems and challenges for the past two years our governor is finally weighing in on issues such as transportation funding, pension reform and school funding. However, I am disappointed that his budget proposal continues to treat economic development and job creation as secondary issues.”
[divider top=”0″]Sen. Fontana’s Reaction to Governor’s Budget Address :: February 5, 2013
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[divider top=”0″]“Getting people back to work and stoking our economy should be the core budget issue. We should enhance proven programs and strategies and invest in new promising ways to attract new business investment and create jobs. We can then generate the kind of revenue that will enable us to cut taxes, adequately maintain our transportation infrastructure, fund our schools, maintain human service programs and continue services that Pennsylvanians rely on.
While our unemployment rate continues to hover around 7.9 percent, our state is a deplorable 34th in job creation. Yet, in this budget, the governor is proposing to consolidate eight loan development funds into a solitary $1.1 billion fund. This isn’t investing in economic growth, it’s a gimmick.
The governor’s budget continues his ‘tough love’ stance against middle income, poor people and homeowners while continuing to offer tax cuts and loopholes to large corporations. In this budget, he proposes to cut an additional $375 million in business taxes – with no investment or job creation requirements.
[divider top=”0″]Sen. Fontana’s Floor Remarks on 2013-14 State Budget :: February 6, 2013
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[divider top=”0″]Over the past two years, my Democratic colleagues and I pressed Republicans to focus more attention on stimulating the economy through job creation and economic development programs. We unveiled two separate legislative packages, called “PA Works” and “PA Works NOW,” aimed at creating jobs and leveraging business investment. While I am encouraged by the governor’s proposal to add $5 million for business marketing programs and increase the Pennsylvania First fund by $10 million, I hope the governor and majority Republicans will be willing to make economic development a greater priority this year.”
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