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For Immediate
Release
3/4/08
Contact:
David Atkinson
(717) 787-6535
Senate Appropriations Committee Adds Special
Budget Hearing
While it is customary for state departments and agencies to discuss their
proposed funding in budget hearings, those who have their funding axed usually
must make their case outside the process. That will change this year, as the
institutions and the programs that again fell victim to the Governor's budget
cuts will have a chance to publicly detail their contributions to the
Commonwealth, according to Senate Appropriations Chairman Gib Armstrong.
"These programs enjoy wide legislative support and provide substantial
community benefits. We intend to put the spotlight on these success stories,"
Armstrong stated.
The Senate Appropriations Committee will be taking testimony from more than a
dozen groups who saw their funding cut or eliminated in Governor Rendell's
proposed state budget. Science in Motion, New Choices/New Options, Thaddeus
Stevens College of Technology, and the McGowan Institute for Regenerative
Medicine are notable examples of affected programs.
"Some of the programs that are zeroed out get the best bang for the buck in
the state budget. Some offer services in parts of the state where there is no
affordable alternative. Some use the state money to draw down larger amounts of
federal and private funding. We want to give the individuals running these
unique and innovative programs a chance to report on their accomplishments and
to describe what continued state funding will produce in the way of worthy
results," Armstrong said.
"The cut-and-restore funding process these groups have to go through each
year gives the misleading impression that their efforts are low in value. The
reality is quite different. In nearly every case, these are proven programs,
filling important gaps in education, health care, and economic development.
They are unfortunate victims of a budget game that has been played by Governors
and Budget Secretaries of both parties," Armstrong pointed out.
The hearing is set for Tuesday, March 11, in the Senate Majority Caucus Room,
beginning at 9:30 a.m.
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