North Lancaster News

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted today in favor of a short-term budget designed to fully fund schools and maintain government services, addressing the economic constraints facing the Commonwealth.

The House vote advances a short-term budget that funds state operations for the next five months to the Senate for consideration. The delegation, including House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Peach Bottom) and Reps. Mindy Fee (R-Manheim), Keith J. Greiner (R-Upper Leacock), Dave Hickernell (R-West Donegal), Brett Miller (R-East Hempfield), Steve Mentzer (R-Lititz), and Dave Zimmerman (R-East Earl), issued the following statement:

"The $25.8 billion plan passed in allows the state to remain operating and responsibly fund all programs for at least five months. However, with the expectation that our schools will be open in the fall, this budget fully funds PreK through 12th grade, special education, career and technical education and higher education for the entire fiscal year.

"The General Assembly will appropriate the final seven months of the fiscal year later in 2020. In order to get back to a financial state in which revenues allow us to return to some semblance of normalcy, we must help businesses, workers, families and schools recover from the widespread impact of this pandemic. Folks that have been forced out of work are still calling and emailing our offices for unemployment compensation of which they have yet to receive a dime. These people must be the priority in any state spending plan for the near future."

The general appropriation bill, along with more than a dozen separate appropriation bills, now advances to the Senate for further consideration.

Lancaster County House Republican Delegation

Pennsylvania House of Representatives