CLEAR Urges Lawmakers to Reject House GOP's Budget Plan

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Coalition for Labor Engagement and Accountable Revenues (www.clearforpa.org) today urged lawmakers to reject the House GOP's budget proposal and sweeping cuts in healthcare for seniors living in nursing homes, hospitals and other vital programs for our most vulnerable citizens.

CLEAR and its 1.1 million members are calling on lawmakers to give Pennsylvanians their tax dollars back by investing the projected $500 million state surplus in education, healthcare and other vital programs. The coalition also called on lawmakers to – once and for all - impose a fair tax on the companies that are reaping billions in profits in the Marcellus Shale play.

"This budget proposal would take hundreds of millions from nursing homes and hospitals. It shreds the safety net for our most vulnerable citizens. It does not to enough to restore Gov. Corbett's proposed cuts to basic education and higher education," said Kathy Jellison, President SEIU Local 668. "You can't look the taxpayer in the eye and tell them that you're going to cut $1 billion from their schools while sitting on $500 million and giving big oil a free ride."

PSEA President James Testerman said, "The House Republicans' budget plan is a step in the right direction, but it still would mean unprecedented cuts to our schools, because it only reduces Governor Corbett's nearly $1.2 billion in proposed public school funding cuts to almost $1 billion in cuts."

"Unfortunately, by adhering to the arbitrary spending limit that the governor has set, resources are being shifted away from services that assist Pennsylvania's most vulnerable citizens," Testerman added.

Earlier this month, more than 5,000 CLEAR members rallied in Harrisburg in the largest demonstration the capitol has witnessed in a decade.

The full House is expected to vote on the spending plan later this month. CLEAR will continue to rally at lawmaker's district offices to drive voter's attention to the devastating consequences this budget proposal would have on Pennsylvanians.

SOURCE CLEAR COALITION