Senator Jay Costa: Thank you for being here today. Folks, we have once again come to a very critical financial point here in Pennsylvania. One that could find us providing for the needs of our families and their children far into the future. And one that can signal the beginning of a very downward spiral if we’re not careful.

The budget plan that we are about to lay out today, and the budget plan that was laid out by the Governor back in February, and the House Republicans just last week, are quite different. The Republican plans that have been put forth, don’t go far enough to ensure that persons and positions, and doesn’t position Pennsylvania well, to once again take good seat as a leader among states, and an innovator among nations. The Republican plans we’ve heard of ignoring the necessities, and critical investments in jobs, education, and social service programs. Three priorities you’ve heard Senate Democrats talk about for several months now.

What we are unveiling today to you, is a Senate Democratic alternative. A responsible, reasonable, and plausible alternative, as I mentioned to the Governor and Republican budget plans. Crafting our plan, we focused on drawing very clear, bright policy lines in between priorities and solutions. The budget alternative today spends $28.4 billion, the proposal well within our growth projections. The plan invested an additional $212 million in education, including funds for distressed schools, charter school reimbursements, and Accountability Block Grant, and tutoring, all critical programs to our educational community.

The main focus of the budget is job creation, and putting people back to work, which is accomplished by making investments of $125 million in targeted tax credits and funding innovative initiatives. The Senate Democratic plan is fully paid for, and it’s balanced. It utilizes funds and savings from the Medicaid expansion program, you’ve heard us talk a lot about. Liquor modernization, and a one-year freeze in the phase-out of the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax, and most importantly, without an increase in our broad-base taxes.

For example, some of the things we mentioned were the $125 million in job creation programs. Including a $42 million new targeted tax credit for the aircraft maintenance, films, school-to-work programs, as well as other programs assisting veterans. A $52 million line item for the new innovation plan, technology investment program. We also invest in education as stated earlier, $84 million for charter development programs, an increase of $50 million in Accountability Block Grant. And in Public Safety, $9 million for more than 300 State Troopers, and an $8 million appropriation for the Attorney General to continue funding essential programs to combat sexual predators, illegal gangs, firearms and drug trade, is included in this budget. And most importantly, we think at a critically point in time, Senate Democrats have been advocating for a GSP plan. And that plan calls for help for all small cities and large municipalities. This budget includes funding for new communities and opportunities out program, and other programs along those lines. A $9 million investment in Main Street and Elm Street programs, as well as additional resources that will allow us to help these small communities prosper and sustain themselves.