HARRISBURG – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa joined Senate Democrats and medical professionals in a call to restore the potentially disastrous cuts proposed to Pennsylvania’s medical schools, bioscience investments and regional cancer centers.
The news conference put the spotlight on state investment versus state spending. Senate Democrats argued that proven, successful investments and preventative cost-saving approaches, such as the Life Science Greenhouses (LSG) program and Pennsylvania’s life-saving Regional Cancer Centers, should be spared from the proverbial budget axe.
Through February 15th of this year, LSGs have been responsible for 3,175 new jobs, 2,763 jobs retained, 136 new companies supported and the creation of an estimated 20,006 indirect jobs through prudent early stage investment that has leveraged millions in private commitments to new and promising life science technologies and innovations.
“From an economic standpoint, we have to realize that modest investments in our state-related academic medical centers are multiplied several times over when you take into account the private and federal dollars which flow into Pennsylvania as a result of the success of these institutions,” Costa said. “We can’t lose sight of the big picture and make reductions now that will cost us in years to come.”
Another concern of Senate Democrats is the potentially crippling funding reductions proposed to the state’s medical schools, specifically the two-year old Commonwealth Medical College (TCMC) in Scranton. State funding for TCMC was completely eliminated in both Gov. Corbett’s and the House Republicans’ budget proposals.
Penn Hills senior Shane J. Healey received a scholarship sponsored by Sen. Costa as part of the Penn Hills Council of PTAs 2011 Senior Scholarship Night at Linton Middle School. Presenting the award is Sharon Price, assistant to Sen. Costa.
HOMESTEAD — Sen. Costa joined local mayors, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Josh Gibson Foundation to unveil 18 new bridge signs honoring the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawford Negro League baseball teams.
The signs are mounted at various locations on the Homestead Grays Bridge and highlight seven players from each team.
“Some of the greatest players in the history of the game played for the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords,” Costa said.
“This is a fitting tribute to what these great men accomplished on the baseball diamond and what they still mean to the communities in this area.”
HARRISBURG – Mt. Oliver Borough will use a $27,159 state loan to upgrade its street lighting with high-efficiency fixtures and bulbs, state Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) announced today.
The funds were approved through the Commonwealth Financing Agency’s (CFA) Alternative and Clean Energy program. The borough will use the $27,159 loan to purchase and install energy-efficient lighting upgrades that are expected to save the borough $4,128 in energy costs annually.
The project is expected to cost a total of $61,367 and involves replacing 85 street lights with energy efficient LED lighting. The borough also expects to replace 15 existing fixtures and upgrade to LED bulbs at 70 other locations throughout Mt. Oliver.
“Energy costs for streetlights and other lighting in public areas can consume a significant portion of a municipality’s annual budget,” Costa said. “These types of projects to improve energy efficiency can pay for themselves over time, not only in lower energy costs, but also because modern LED bulbs last longer than traditional bulbs, which can reduce replacement expenses.”
The CFA is an independent agency of the Commonwealth that administers Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus packages.
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PITTSBURGH – Reforming the corrections system and finding cost savings were the topics as Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa joined Auditor General Jack Wagner and Senate Judiciary Chairman Stewart Greenleaf (R-Montgomery) at a news conference at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU).
The officials discussed the need for sentencing reform and alternative sentencing programs to curb Pennsylvania’s increasing prison costs. Pennsylvania led the nation in prison population growth in 2009, adding 2,122 inmates.
“The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections annual budget has grown from $94 million in 1980 to nearly $1.9 billion as proposed by the governor for the coming fiscal year,” Costa said. “This kind of growth is unsustainable and represents a very large portion of the overall state budget.”
The lawmakers were also joined by Dr. Alfred Blumstein (bottom photo), professor of urban systems and operations research at CMU, who detailed the costs of the state’s extensive prison system.
Costa and Wagner said they support Greenleaf’s legislation (SB 100), which calls for a renewed focus on alternative sentencing for non-violent offenders and a greater emphasis on programs designed to reduce recidivism.
