Pennsylvania Gov. Wolf Presents Legislation to Enact His Budget Proposal

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 11, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Wolf today presented a package of legislation to enact his budget proposal that makes historic investments in education while taking concrete steps toward rebuilding the middle class. Gov. Wolf's budget restores cuts to basic education with a four-year commitment to increase funding by $2 billion while cutting property taxes paid by the average homeowner by 50 percent and reducing the total tax burden on average, middle-class families. Gov. Wolf's budget also helps grow jobs in Pennsylvania by cutting the corporate net income tax by 50 percent and making strategic investments in job creation through programs like the Made in Pennsylvania manufacturing tax credit.

In order to ensure that we are adequately funding education at all levels, the legislation includes a severance tax on natural gas that will raise new revenue so we can reinvest in classrooms and provide the resources for students to succeed at higher levels. Pennsylvania is the only major gas-producing state that does not tax oil and natural gas extraction – we're failing to do so at a time when schools across the commonwealth are struggling.

"Last week, I outlined my gimmick-free budget, and today, I am presenting legislation that corresponds with the vision I laid out," said Governor Wolf. "My budget rebuilds the middle class in Pennsylvania starting with three priorities: jobs that pay, schools that teach, and government that works. My plan balances the state budget, cuts taxes to create jobs with good middle-class wages, makes historic investments in education to prepare our kids for the jobs of tomorrow, and reduces the total tax burden on the average middle-class homeowner by incorporating many Republican and Democratic ideas to move Pennsylvania forward."

Legislation Presented Includes:

Part I: General Budget Enabling Legislation
1.     General Appropriation Act

Part II: Major Policy Initiatives
2.     Property Tax Relief
3.     Pension Reform
4.     Manufacturing Tax Credit
5.     Online Home Health Care Worker Registry
6.     Pay for Success

Part III: Public School Code
7.     Omnibus Legislation Enacting Major Basic Education and Special Education Funding Provisions, Accountability, Cyber Charter Reform and Other Proposals
8.     Career and Technical Education Investment and Innovation Act

Part IV: Tax Reform Code
9.     Education Reinvestment Act
10.   Omnibus Legislation Enacting Tax Provisions to Implement the FY2015-16 Executive Budget

Part V: Additional Budget Bills

Non-Preferred Appropriations
11.     Pennsylvania State University
12.     University of Pittsburgh
13.     Temple University
14.     Lincoln University
15.     University of Pennsylvania

Other Enabling Legislation
16.     Capital Debt Legislation
17.     Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs
18.     Workers' Compensation
19.     Office of Small Business Advocate
20.     Office of Consumer Advocate
21.     Public School Employees Retirement Board
22.     State Employees Retirement Board
23.     Philadelphia Parking Authority
24.     Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
25.     Gaming Control Appropriation Act

MEDIA CONTACT: Jeff Sheridan - 717.783.1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

Related Links

http://www.governor.state.pa.us