Senate Democrats Seek Job Creation, Education, Safety Net Dollars in Budget Discussions

Harrisburg, April 17, 2013 – Senate Democrats’ 2013-14 budget priorities are heavily weighted toward job creation, education investments, strengthening the social-services safety net, modernizing liquor sales and refocusing Pennsylvania’s business tax menu to help small businesses, they announced today at a Capitol news conference.

Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said that Senate Democrats will go into this year’s budget negotiations with a clear purpose and “are resolved that the state’s economy must be jump-started. New jobs must be created and we have to reverse the negative course that the Corbett administration has plotted for Pennsylvania on education and protecting our most vulnerable.”

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“We have an opportunity and a responsibility to seek new investments and use resources that are available to change policy direction during this year’s budget negotiations.”

Costa said Senate Democrats believe that more than 120,000 jobs can be created quickly by enacting a responsible transportation plan, expanding Medicaid and using economic development policies outlined in their PA Works plan.

Costa was joined by a host of Senate Democrats in making today’s announcement.

Sen. Vincent Hughes, who serves as the Democratic chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said that by taking action now on key economic initiatives then restoring job creation and community programs to their past luster — before Corbett budgets sliced them to the core — is an excellent starting point.

“We need to start creating jobs right now and we can do that by working on transportation and Medicaid expansion,” Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) said. “These initiatives coupled with rebuilding water and sewer systems, investing in schools and new technologies will create economic growth immediately.

“In addition, by investing in programs such as Main Street, Elm Street and international business we can help small business here while they market their products abroad.,”

Democratic Whip Sen. Tony Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) said that the caucus was turning up the heat on the Corbett administration on jobs, health care, education and social safety net issues because the governor has failed to lead.

“We’ve outlined reasonable strategic policy alternatives that will reverse direction and provide a new path and we’ve identified revenues that will pay for the proposed expenditures,” Williams said. “Pennsylvania is rudderless on job creation and our economic numbers and business indicators under this administration illustrate the problem.

“Our most vulnerable can also not withstand another senseless round of Corbett cuts and we have to restore programs that promote help for those in need.”

Williams said that Pennsylvania is now 43rd in job creation, falling from eighth place among all states under Gov. Ed Rendell’s leadership. Plus, he said, last month’s unemployment claims fell nationally to below 350,000 but, because of Corbett policy short-sightedness, Pennsylvania led the country in new unemployment claims.

Senate Democrats said that they have laid out specific plans to achieve results in the 2013-14 budget in five areas. These include: strategic investments to create jobs; improving education; repositioning business taxes while closing business tax loopholes; modernizing the wine and spirits stores; and repairing and protecting social safety net programs.

The caucus leaders said that they’ve noted at least $750 million in annual savings, plus another $150 million in one-time revenues. They also said that we need to find resources to pay for specific new expenditures including $225 million for basic education, $50 million to aid distressed cities and communities, $40 million for transitional housing and homeownership among other items, and funds for new tax credits for a variety of areas including film production.

Democrats said that priority details include a three-year phase in of new monies to restore education dollars and key student-performance based initiatives that were cut by the Corbett administration in the last two budgets.

They also said that they would emphasize rebuilding struggling communities through their Growth, Progress and Sustainability (GPS) plan; seek new funds for transitional housing and new homeownership opportunities; and push for modernizing the wine and spirits stores rather than the opt for the risky privatization scheme that has been sought by the Corbett administration.

The Democrats indicated that they expected the negotiations to become more focused once the Senate returns to session in late April.

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Costa: Open a College Savings Account in September and Save Money

HARRISBURG, September 10, 2012 – State Sen. Jay Costa said families can save $50 by enrolling online in the college savings program operated by the state treasurer’s office in September.

“From now through the end of September, the PA 529 GSP plan is offering free enrollment for all new accounts that are opened online this month, saving families the $50 enrollment fee,” Costa said.  “Using this program helps families cope with the high cost of a college education.”

To open or contribute to an account, visit www.PA529.com or call 1-800-440-4000. Constituents may use the code “Jay Costa” when they enroll online in the PA 529 GSP to waive the $50 enrollment fee.

The contributions made to PA 529 plans are tax deductible and when they are used for qualified education expenses are state and federal tax exempt.

“The PA 529 plan is a key financial tool that helps families manage college costs.  It may also be used grandparents and friends to contribute to a student’s education,” Costa said.

Costa (D-Allegheny), a longtime advocate of funding for higher education during his tenure in the Senate, said that investing in a PA 529 account is smart and forward-thinking.  PA 529 contributions grow at the rate of tuition inflation.  The lawmaker said that if a family saves enough for a semester at a state system university today, there will be enough to pay for another semester at the school in the future – regardless of tuition increases in the future.

Costa serves as the Senate Democratic Leader and is a member of the Board of Trustees at the University of Pittsburgh and the Community College of Allegheny County.  He is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Duquesne University law school in Pittsburgh.

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Education Improving but Faces Funding Issues

Senator Costa speaks while Governor Ed Rendell listens in
HARRISBURG, November 15, 2011 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa was joined by former Gov. Ed Rendell at a capitol news conference to draw attention to a recent report that shows Pennsylvania is one of just a few states that made significant progress from 2003 to 2011 in all grades and subjects. [audio:https://senatorcosta.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/pa-school-achievement-costa-wrap.mp3|titles=pa-school-achievement-costa-wrap]

The National Assessment of Educational Progress  – commonly known as “the nation’s report card” – also shows score gaps between higher- and lower-income students also narrowed from 2003 to 2011 in only four states. Pennsylvania was one of them.

Additionally, more Pittsburgh students scored in the proficient and advanced ranges for reading and math compared to four years ago — until they reached high school, where 11th-grade math scores declined for the second consecutive year. Pittsburgh students also made greater gains than students across Pennsylvania in all grades, except for 11th-grade math.

Costa said the test scores are proof that the targeted investment made by the legislature over the past eight years improved student performance in Pennsylvania and improved public schools.

Costa also expressed concerns that last year’s Republican budget that cut education by nearly $1 billion statewide will reverse these patterns of success and the positive momentum shown in public schools.

Sen. Costa addresses groups concerned about how policies affect children

January 28, 2011 – The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland – Pittsburgh Branch and Govern for Kids hosted Sen. Costa for a breakfast forum focused on policy affecting children.

Costa poses with atttendees

Sen. Costa poses for a photo with Michelle Figlar from the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children and Kristen Burns from the Grable Foundation

Robert Schaub, Vice President & Senior Regional Officer of the Pittsburgh Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank kicked the morning off and spoke about the research the Federal Reserve is doing around children’s issues and its programs to teach children financial literacy.

Sen. Costa then provided an overview of the successes Pennsylvania has had improving the lives of children in the recent past, and the challenges the Commonwealth faces in the coming year.

Topics ranged from early care and education to school choice legislation currently pending in the state Senate.

Sen. Costa then answered a wide array of questions from the audience of child advocates, business owners and students from a local high school.

Govern for Kids is a coalition of child advocates, parents and concerned citizens convened by the United Way of Allegheny County.To learn more go to: http://governforkids.org.