Posted by Josh Shapiro on Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Dear Friend:
Just a few minutes ago, the House passed a balanced state budget on time and sent it to the Governor for his signature, which is expected shortly. I voted in favor of the budget.
The $28 billion budget — roughly the same spending level as last year — was passed in the face of a $1.5 billion deficit and required us to make significant cuts to programs and investments that I think are important. But, I also think it’s important — indeed, critical – that government live within its means and not pass on any additional burden to the taxpayers in these difficult economic times. This budget does not raise taxes, it reduces the cost of government operations and still manages to make critical investments that will help grow our economy and improve education.
A budget is the sum of many, many parts. To be sure, there are parts I like and parts I don’t. But on the whole, it does more good than harm. For example, it makes a $250 million increase in K-12 public education, which will result in more state money going to both the Abington and Upper Dublin school districts. This investment will benefit our children and grandchildren, while at the same time it protects our homeowners and seniors against school property tax hikes. Additionally, notwithstanding the devastating deficits, we managed to make critical investments in economic development to create jobs and grow our economy.
But there is pain, too. In key public health programs, libraries and environmental protection, we sustained cuts. Make no mistake, I am not happy about those cuts and fought hard to bolster those programs during budget negotiations. In the end, we compromised, we lived within our means and we did not raise taxes.
As always, I welcome your feedback.
All the best,
Rep. Josh Shapiro
Posted by Website Admin on Tuesday, June 29, 2010
– Join Josh as he continues going door to door to meet with constituents and let them know how he continues to fight successfully for the community.
Posted by Mark Koenig on Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Carl Hessler of The Times Herald writes:
A proposal to impose stricter rules for teen drivers appears destined for a compromise between Pennsylvania Senate and House members now that a House committee recommended rejecting a Senate version of the bill.
The Pennsylvania House Rules Committee on Monday transferred the Senate’s version of House Bill 67 to the full House with a recommendation that House members “non-concur” with the “watered down” Senate version of the proposed law, according to State Rep. Joseph Markosek, the original sponsor of the legislation.
A non-concurrence vote could be taken by the full House within the next several days.
(…)
State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-153rd Dist., claimed the Senate version does nothing to prevent accidents and that “there will be bloodshed on Pennsylvania highways continuing” if the Senate version is adopted.
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Posted by Mark Koenig on Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Thomas Celona of Montgomery News writes:
“This is another awesome day for North Hills,” state Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-153, said. “What we’ve seen in North Hills — the growth, the development, the positive change, bringing community together, whether it’s in our new baseball field, at the pool or in one of the amazing Habitat homes we’ve been able to build right here in North Hills — it’s all coming together … Most importantly, the change and all the positive growth is happening because of people willing to pitch in and volunteer and make our community just a little bit better. And there are very few people in our midst who have done what Sherry Rivers and her husband, Chuck, have done to improve our community.”
Read the full article here.
Posted by Mark Koenig on Friday, June 25, 2010
Margaret Gibbons of The Bucks County Courier Times writes:
State Reps. Josh Shapiro of Abington and Steve Santarsiero of Newtown have put up a website for suggestions to curb the $1.5 billion deficit.
A handful of Democratic state lawmakers are turning to you for suggestions on how to offset an estimated $1.5 billion deficit in the state’s budget.
State Reps. Josh Shapiro of Abington and Steve Santarsiero of Newtown along with three colleagues put up an electronic suggestion box for residents’ ideas on how to balance the state’s budget last week.
The public can access the suggestion box at www.yourpabudget.com and offer ideas on spending cuts, raising additional revenue or weigh in on other suggestions.
As of Monday afternoon, more than 10,000 people have visited the website; more than 960 proposals have been posted.
“We don’t expect these suggestions to plug the entire $1.5 billion budget hole but it is a way for citizens to be engaged in this process as we move forward,” said Shapiro.
The deadline for the state to adopt a new budget is June 30.
Shapiro said the website, created at no cost to taxpayers, is not a gimmick.
“We believe a lot of ideas on how to repair Harrisburg and the budget problem exist outside the walls of the Capitol,” said Shapiro. “We wanted to provide an easy way for those outside the Capitol to engage in government and offer their suggestions.”
Shapiro, who said he reads through the suggestions at least twice a day since the website went up, said the group already has passed on one of the ideas to the state Department of Transportation.
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