Kortz+-+Budget+fails+Pa.+children,+students,+working+families

=Press Release from Rep. Bill Kortz= =6/28/12= = = =media type="youtube" key="TGBHHHeqym8" height="480" width="640"= = = =**HARRISBURG, June 28 – ** State Rep. Bill Kortz, D-Allegheny, released the following statement regarding the passage of the 2012-13 state budget. Kortz voted against the bill, which passed the state House and is expected to be signed by the governor before the weekend. = = =

="Governor Corbett and the Republican-controlled General Assembly again have ganged up against the public school system. For the last several years, I've watched as education funding has dwindled, shortchanging – most notably – the funds for the West Mifflin, East Allegheny, Duquesne, McKeesport, South Allegheny, Baldwin-Whitehall, Thomas Jefferson, Steel Valley and Clairton school districts. = = =

="This budget will further cripple public education. It does so with complete inequity as the richest school districts will see smaller cuts, and those districts most in need are slashed by nearly seven times the amount-per-student," Kortz said. = = =

=Kortz cited Upper St. Clair School District, which is the richest school district in Allegheny County, with a funding cut of $20 per student in the 2012-13 budget and just $1,975 per classroom. Conversely, Duquesne School District saw a $1,521 cut-per-student and a total of $38,000 per classroom. = = =

="Meanwhile, the state Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis plans to transfer 7th and 8th grade students from Duquesne to West Mifflin and East Allegheny school districts without any public input or official notice or announcement to the public on his plan to further shut down parts of the school," Kortz said. "Because of these Republican-controlled cuts, many school programs are being cut, teachers laid off, class sizes increased and property taxes increased, all the while millions of taxpayer dollars are hoarded by this governor. = = =

="This budget includes a 10 percent cut across the board for health and human services. That equates to a $12.3 million cut to Allegheny County's most needy. This shortchanges our citizens and will hurt the most needy and disabled in our communities. = = =

="And, again, this budget ignores significant fund resources, including revenue surpluses disclosed by the Independent Fiscal Office. Last year, the governor gave a pass to big gas – no tax to the Marcellus Shale industry. Additionally, many oppressive loopholes worth nearly $1 billion, such as the Delaware loophole, Amazon loophole, 89-11 real estate loophole, etc., are protected by those controlling Harrisburg. Our schools strive for No Child Left Behind and to help them Harrisburg should follow suit by 'no surplus left behind.' = = =

="Finally, this budget fails to address our state's infrastructure. With more than 5,300 crumbling bridges and 8,000-plus miles of deteriorating roadways, crumbling locks and dams and nothing has been done to even try to fix these dangerous problems. = = =

="The bottom line is this: This budget shortchanges Pennsylvania's children, students, working families, seniors and our most vulnerable citizens." = = =

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