TARTAGLIONE PRAISES PASSAGE OF BUDGET

HARRISBURG, July 16, 2007 -- After months of letter-writing and weeks of debate, state Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione said today she is satisfied that the new state budget keeps important programs alive in the face of stiff federal cutbacks.

            “Millions of Pennsylvanians can rest easier knowing that the General Assembly has stepped up to bridge the gap between a shortsighted federal government and the long-simmering crises in Pennsylvania,” Tartaglione said. “Even with a surplus, this budget presented serious challenges.”  

            Tartaglione spent recent months writing letters and lobbying colleagues to preserve programs critical to her district and its economy.   The effort resulted in historic commitments to mass transit and pre-kindergarten education, along with restored funding for medical assistance, workforce development and vocational rehabilitation.

            One of the most daunting budget challenges was the need to replace dwindling federal Medicare reimbursements, affecting millions of patients and thousands of workers.

            “Health care in my district is not just a critical social issue but it is also a critical economic issue,” Tartaglione said. “Inadequate reimbursements to hospitals threaten the health and welfare of everyone in the region.”

             Also critical to Philadelphia is SEPTA, and Tartaglione has been battling for years to keep the transit system afloat. In previous sessions, Tartaglione has introduced legislation that would have provided a dedicated source of funding for mass transit without using gas taxes.

            “I have been trying for years to prevent our critical mass transit systems from becoming chips in a political poker game,” she said. “Finally, I am more confident now that we can avoid the annual crisis facing mass transit. We know that our future must include less dependence on fossil fuels and automobiles. With a dedicated source of funding, our transit systems can plan for that future.”

            While the budget should ensure that buses and trains will be available to move our workforce, it also provides a roadmap toward a qualified and educated workforce through an additional $77 million subsidy for Philadelphia schools, pre-K education efforts and workforce development funding.

            “One thing all sides can agree on in this budget debate is that job creation is a priority for everyone,” Tartaglione said.  “Hopefully we can begin the job of educating our children sooner, and maintain that commitment throughout their lives in a quickly changing world.”