PA CLEAR'S 1.1 Million Working Pennsylvanians Urge Lawmakers to Focus on Impact of Gov. Corbett's Budget Proposal

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The PA CLEAR Coalition is urging lawmakers to return the taxpayer's surplus and prevent sweeping cuts to public schools in every corner of the Commonwealth.  

"All you have to do is read the papers to understand what is happening in virtually every school district in the state. Class sizes are getting too big. Programs are being cut. Full day kindergarten won't be offered anymore," said David Fillman, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 13 and the Chair of the CLEAR Coalition. "And we all know that property taxes will go up as well. Pennsylvanians are paying attention and lawmakers have to understand that their constituents expect – and deserve – better."

The coalition represents 1.1 million working Pennsylvanians.

Consider the following headlines:

"When Gov. Tom Corbett chose to cut Pennsylvania's way out of a projected multibillion-dollar budget deficit, he started by taking a disproportionate chunk of state aid away from the state's poorest school districts," Associated Press.

"A group of citizens in the Crestwood School District are planning to rally against a proposal that would cut the kindergarten school day in half," The Standard Speaker.

"The budget crisis in the School District of Lancaster has led to the first teacher, staff and administrative layoffs," WGAL.

"Erie Teachers will receive layoff notices at end of June," The Erie Times-News.

"The Wilkes-Barre Area School Board Budget and Finance Committee on Thursday unveiled a preliminary budget that would almost certainly make class sizes larger, leave 30 or more children ages 3 to 5 without pre-kindergarten, and return seventh- and eighth-grade sports to the days when they were part of the high school programs, a freshman team alongside varsity and junior varsity teams," The Times Leader.

"Bangor Joins Ranks Of Dozens Of Districts; Announces Possible Layoffs," WFMZ.

Go to www.clearforpa.org for more information.

SOURCE PA CLEAR Coalition