Harrisburg – June 22, 2018 – State Sen. Art Haywood (D-Philadelphia/ Montgomery) released the following statement regarding the state Senate’s passage of the $32.7 billion General Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2018-19.

“For the first time during my tenure in the Senate, the state budget is done and before the June 30 deadline.  The spending plan moves our communities forward in real ways.  The spending plan:

  • Invests more than $160 million for basic education, special education, Pre-K, and Head Start;
  • Expands job training and apprenticeship programs for adults with a $19 million increase;
  • Adds $30 million to expand career and technical education to better prepare the workforce;
  • Increases funding by $1.3 million to fight discrimination;
  • Expands environmental protection with a $6 million increase in funding.

“Like any budget, there are good and bad outcomes. Poverty pay of $7.25 per hour and a severance tax on natural gas drillers did not get done again. We will continue to fight for these and other priorities going forward.”