Harrisburg – February 3, 2021 – Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D- Allegheny) released the following statement following Governor Tom Wolf’s budget address:
For the last 11 months, millions of Pennsylvanians have sacrificed—by protecting their loved ones, looking out for their neighbors, and foregoing their normal lives. Pennsylvanians did this because they are invested in their communities and in their state. Now, it is time their state invests in them.
I applaud Governor Wolf for a budget proposal that focuses state government’s resources on helping Pennsylvanians bounce back from the economic effects of the pandemic.
This budget proposal includes investment in our health and safety through lead remediation in our school buildings and increase in access to affordable health care; investment in our workforce through streamlining professional licensing and supercharging the successful bipartisan Keystone Economic Development and Workforce Command Center; investment in our children’s education through increased funding of our school districts and Pre-K and Early Intervention programs; and investment in our business community through lowering the Corporate Net Income Tax rate and eliminating tax loopholes to level the playing field for all businesses.
The governor’s proposed budget also includes long-overdue investment in our citizens. Minimum wage- and hourly-workers continue to bear the brunt of the economic effects of the pandemic—and disproportionately persons of color and women. The fact that our minimum wage workers continue to be trapped at $7.25 for the last 11 years is shameful. I once again call on my colleagues in the General Assembly to finally act on raising the minimum wage.
I am pleased that Governor Wolf’s budget proposal reflects the uniqueness of this challenging time we are working through. I am interested in learning more about his progressive tax idea and how it could benefit the taxpayers and businesses in the 42ndsenatorial district.
I look forward to getting to work on the budget process for the people of Pennsylvania who continue to sacrifice so much.
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