'No Excuse' For No State Budget: Bucks Co. Senator

LOWER BUCKS COUNTY, PA — As the PA State Budget impasse continues, Lower Bucks County Democratic lawmakers have sent a message to their GOP colleagues to make a deal.

State Sen. Steve Santarsiero held a press conference late last week with fellow Democrats, calling for an end to the impasse, which is nearing 120 days since the June 30 state budget deadline.

“We demand Senate Republicans negotiate, and we demand a budget,” Santarsiero said. “This is far too long. There is no excuse left. It is time to get to work.”

Santarsiero was joined by Democratic State Reps. Jim Prokopiak, Tina Davis, Tim Brennan and Brian Munroe, Morrisville School District Superintendent Andrew Doster and Board President Damon Miller, and Bucks County Commissioners Bob Harvie and Diane Ellis-Marseglia.

All called for a state budget that meets the funding needs and obligations of the Commonwealth.

“The flat-funded budget proposed by the Senate Republicans does not take into account the $2.2 billion in additional expenses to comply with a court order requiring $500 million for public education funding and $1.7 billion for the federally required rules for Medical Assistance and other health programs,” Santarsiero said. “How can we possibly pass a flat-funded budget and meet those obligations without making dramatic cuts to existing budget lines?”

Santarsiero said, unlike during previous budget impasses, the Commonwealth is currently sitting on a $10 billion surplus from the Rainy-Day Fund and surplus revenue, that could cover the additional funding in the budget without raising taxes on Pennsylvanians.

The Senate returned to session on Monday.