Gibbons Votes for 2015-16 Budget to Keep School Open and Provide Services

HARRISBURG, March 16 – State Rep Jaret Gibbons, D-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence, said he voted in favor of the latest state budget proposal in an effort to keep schools open and continue to fund human services programs for Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable citizens

The Republican majority proposed another state budget today that offered additional funding for schools, social services and agricultural programs without raising taxes.

“I am very concerned for our children and senior citizens who have been the victims of continued bickering in the General Assembly,” Gibbons said.

“I do not want to see schools in my area close because Governor Wolf and the Republican legislative majority cannot work together to reach a compromise that meets the long-term needs of all Pennsylvanians. We shouldn’t be forced into a predicament to push the burden on counties and school boards in order to come up with the money.”

Gibbons said the budget also includes an extra $50 million for basic education which brings the total fiscal-year increase to $200 million,

“I want to see human services and 4-H programs funded and this financial plan does that,” Gibbons said.

As an elected official, Gibbons said his first priority is to represent his constituents and the reality of the situation is that he needed to act accordingly and voted for continued funding for services.

“It’s well past time to finally get this year’s budget finished and move on to deal with the structural deficit we face in the coming year,” he said.

Gibbons said he also voted for bills to fund state-related universities, including Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh.