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Tuesday June 29, 2010
Budget Deal Is Near: Tell Leaders To Stop Protecting Big Corporations At The Expense of Kids
Call Legislative Leaders Now
It appears that legislative leaders and Governor Rendell have reached a tentative agreement on $28.05 billion budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year. The deal reflects a 1% increase from the current budget and includes cuts to basic education, early childhood education and other services for children and families.
Legislative leaders have agreed to enact a severance tax on natural gas extraction in the fall, which would go into effect in January 2011.
Media reports indicate that the budget agreement includes cuts of 3%-10% for some programs and services - and relies on $850 million in federal Medicaid funding (FMAP) that has stalled in Congress.
Lawmakers can do more to raise state revenue as part of a balanced approach to the budget. This budget plan lets tobacco companies off the hook, failing to tax smokeless tobacco and cigars at the expense of children. Budget negotiators also refused to close corporate tax loopholes and end the sales tax vendor discount, which gives big corporations a discount simply for paying their sales tax on time!
THINGS ARE MOVING FAST, BUT IT'S NOT TOO LATE.
THE TIME FOR CALLS IS NOW!
Please take a moment to call state House and Senate leaders today! Tell them to stop protecting big corporations at the expense of our kids. Urge them to tax cigars and smokeless tobacco; close corporate tax loopholes and end the sales tax vendor discount to prevent deep cuts in services for children and families. Call them regardless of whether you live in their districts.
SENATE
President Pro Tempore: Senator Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson), (717) 787-7084
Majority Leader: Senator Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware), (717) 787-4712
Appropriations Committee Chair: Senator Jake Corman (R-Centre), (717) 787-1377
HOUSE
Speaker: Representative Keith McCall (D-Carbon),(717) 787-4610
Majority Leader: Representative Todd Eachus (D-Luzerne), (717) 787-2229
Appropriations Committee Chair: Representative Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia), (717) 783-1540
We can make a difference, but legislative leaders need to hear from us.
Please make the calls now.
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Join PCCY and our partners in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Budget Coalition for a Rally on Thursday, July 1, noon, at Dilworth Plaza for increased state revenue to protect services, and to urge Congress to approve a six-month extension to FMAP – without which Pennsylvania will see even deeper cuts. Click here for details.
About this E-Alert
In an effort to keep our friends and colleagues up-to-date on what’s going on with children and families in our region, PCCY will, from time to time, issue an E-Alert on an issue that we need YOU to take action on!
We will: provide you with the information on the issues
We need YOU to: take the action step(s) that are listed
We hope that you will join us in helping to protect the lives and life chances of children and families in our region by doing something TODAY to help protect their tomorrows. However, if you would like to be removed from the e-mail list and receive no further updates, please send an e-mail to info@pccy.org.
* END ALERT *
President: Carolyn Adams
Executive Director: Shelly D. Yanoff
Communications Director: Sid Holmes
Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY)
1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Sixth Floor
Philadelphia, Pa 19103
Phone: 215-563-5848
Fax: 215-563-9442
Website: www.pccy.org
E-mail: info@pccy.org
Webmaster: Steven Fynes
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