HARRISBURG, May 28, 2020 – State Sen. Larry Farnese released the following statement regarding his “no” vote today on the General Appropriations Bill:
“Last June, I voted against the state budget agreement because it lacked a commitment to remediate the dangerous and unhealthy conditions inside Philadelphia’s aging public schools, including asbestos, lead, and mold.
“Over the past year, I have met with hundreds of parents, students, teachers, administrators and aides to hear their hair-raising stories about working and learning in these conditions. I made a commitment to them that I will make their cause my cause.
“Today, I kept that commitment.
“I understand that there is uncertainty about Pennsylvania’s finances and time will tell us much that we don’t now know. And, I remain appreciative of Governor Wolf’s commitment to education.
“But we already knew before the pandemic that many of our public schools are dangerously and immorally underfunded. I will not ask our parents and teachers for their patience as we leap from crisis to crisis.”
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