HARRISBURG – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa continued to push Republican leadership to restore unreasonably deep budget cuts on Sunday night by introducing an amendment to restore state funding to the University of Pittsburgh to last year’s level without raising any taxes or fees.
Costa’s amendment to Senate Bill 1123 would have reinstated the nearly $32 million state funding cut proposed to the University of Pittsburgh in the Republican’s budget ‘agreement’ by looking at cost efficiencies within the Department of Corrections budget and federalizing inmate health care provided outside institutions.
“It is unconscionable that our Republican counterparts are inclined to leave hundreds of millions of dollars on the table while our middle class and our students are going to shoulder an unnecessary and potentially crippling financial burden in this budget,” Costa said.
“The University of Pittsburgh is regarded nationally as one of the finest higher education institutions and public research facilities in the country. By taking away this state investment and forcing our state institutions to raise tuition, we are effectively crushing the higher aspirations of many Pennsylvania families who will now be unable to afford the cost of a college education.”
Costa’s amendment fell short by a party line vote of 30-20.
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