Bartolotta Responds to Governor’s Veto of Funding for Schools, Social Services

HARRISBURG – Senator Camera Bartolotta (R-46) released the following statement today in reaction to Governor Wolf’s veto of emergency funding for schools and social services:

“It is incomprehensible to me that the governor would stand in the way of our schools and social service providers receiving the funding they so desperately need. Rejecting the needs of vulnerable citizens for the sake of partisan politics is a serious violation of the public’s trust in state government.

“In addition to burdening service providers who are struggling just to keep the doors open, the Governor’s veto creates a serious burden on local schools. The state has already missed $1 billion in payments to school districts because of the Governor’s budget veto, and a further interruption in funding will force school boards to waste millions of dollars in borrowing costs rather than devoting those resources to students in the classroom.

“The primary motivation of any elected official should be to ensure public dollars are invested wisely to provide the greatest possible benefit to our communities. Rejecting an emergency funding measure designed to protect some of our most vulnerable citizens does nothing to help us accomplish that goal. The emergency funding bills were the fourth attempt by lawmakers to get funding to schools and social service agencies. It is beyond disappointing that the Wolf Administration has repeatedly denied funding to those who need our help most.

“After campaigning on the concept of Government That Works, Governor Wolf has given us only Government At Its Worst. Schools and human services agencies should never be used as pawns in a political chess match. Real people are going to suffer real consequences because of the governor’s veto of emergency funding, and my highest priority will exploring alternatives to undo the damage the Governor has caused over the past several months.”
CONTACT: Colleen Greer (717) 787-1463

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