DEMOCRATS URGE SENATE TO BRING PHILA. FISCAL BILL TO THE FLOOR

HARRISBURG, August 10 — Surrounded by Philadelphia police officers and firefighters at a Capitol press conference, Senate Democratic lawmakers today urged swift movement on legislation that would help address Philadelphia’s fiscal troubles.

 “The city is in the midst of deep fiscal troubles and time is running out,” said state Sen. Shirley Kitchen (D-Phila.). “This is not tied to the state budget in any way; that’s a separate issue. It does not require the Senate to raise any taxes. We’re simply untying Philadelphia’s hands so the city can make the fiscal decisions it needs to keep operations running. Now is the time to get this legislation on the floor for a vote.”

            The House has already passed House Bill 1828, which would give Philadelphia the authority to temporarily raise its sales tax by one penny-per-dollar and defer pension contributions for two years. The bill is currently under consideration in the Senate Finance Committee.

            “We’ve asked the Republican leadership to reconvene so we can pass a bill that makes Philadelphia responsible for putting its own fiscal house in order and we’ve had little to no cooperation,” said Democratic Leader Bob Mellow (D-Lackawanna). “We’re asking them to do the appropriate thing for the people of Philadelphia.”

            “The fact that the Republicans have tied this bill to the state’s budget is unconscionable and unprecedented,” said Senate Democratic Appropriations Chairman Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), who noted that Pittsburgh faced similar fiscal restructuring in 2004, and the state budget was not impacted by the legislature’s decision to allow Pittsburgh to relieve its own deficit.

            “The city of Philadelphia’s plan does not impact the General Assembly. We’re asking the Republican leadership to allow Philadelphia to govern itself,” Costa said.

            If this legislation is not passed by the Republican-controlled state Senate and signed into law by Aug. 15, 2009, Mayor Michael Nutter has warned that Philadelphia would be forced to lay off nearly 3,000 city workers, including 1,000 police officers or administrators; 150 firefighters and 40 paramedics.

            “This bill gives Philadelphia the ability to clean its own house. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking to clean our house up,” said John McNesby, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 in Philadelphia. “We cannot afford to lose another police officer in the city of Philadelphia… It’s time to let us police our own city.”

            State Sen. Tina Tartaglione agreed, noting that her community cannot afford to lose any police officers, in light of the recent deaths of a half dozen officers in the line of duty over the past few years.

            “If you take police off the street, we’re going to have more shootings, more deaths, more innocent bystanders, and we can’t have that. We’ve lost too many cops over the last few years,” said Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia). “I’m imploring the leadership in the Republican Senate to let Philadelphia go forward so we don’t lose another officer.”

            Regarding police officers and firefighters, “They are the pillars of our community. They protect us and they give up their lives every day,” said Sen. LeAnna Washington (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery). “Republicans need to stop playing games and release Philadelphia to allow it to do its business at home.”

            In addition, the city would have to close fire houses and ladder companies, all branch and regional libraries, recreation centers and all activities at Fairmount Park.

            Sen. Daylin Leach noted that the entire Philadelphia region will suffer if the city is forced to make drastic cuts.

            “My constituents rely on Philadelphia for its culture, its economy, its recreation, and to go to work. They deserve a safe city and a city that’s working,” said Leach (D-Montgomery/Delaware). “My district, and all of Pennsylvania, is going to suffer if Philadelphia suffers.”

            Both state Sens. Anthony Williams and Vincent Hughes blamed Republican inaction for keeping Pennsylvania from passing its budget and holding Philadelphia from moving forward.

            “Republicans have no problem holding anyone hostage to get what they want,” said state Sen. Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware). “Now, they’ve decided to hold Philadelphia hostage.”

           “The city is not asking the state for any more money, but they choose to hold us hostage,” said Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery). “We can get this thing done this week and take the steps to move the city forward and, hopefully, move the state forward.”

            State Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Philadelphia) urged freshman Republican lawmakers to ask their leadership to “put the games behind them” and move the legislation forward because “it’s the right thing to do.”

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