WILLIAMS RESPONDS TO BUDGET UNVEILING

 HARRISBURG, FEB.6 – State Sen. Connie Williams called the Governor's 2008-09 state spending plan a good proposal and challenged her colleagues to put aside political rhetoric in favor of ensuring that the final budget addresses the needs of Pennsylvanians and the continued economic growth of the Commonwealth.

 "In the current national economic climate, Pennsylvania, like all of the states, is facing a challenging budget year," Williams said. "This year, more than ever, Pennsylvania needs to return to the basics, which means finding innovative ways to invest money so that it benefits the most Pennsylvanians, while continuing to educate Pennsylvania's children, repairing our infrastructure (including bridges, roadways and dam repairs), growing our economy and providing family-sustaining jobs, and caring for our most vulnerable citizens. All of this can and must be achieved while making government work smarter."

 Williams, who advocated for and supported the Costing Out Study, noted that education must figure prominently in this year's debates.

 "Education is key to our future growth and prosperity as a state," Williams said. "This budget plan would increase funding for basic education while calling for additional accountability. It takes the findings from the Costing Out Study and begins to work toward ensuring every student receives an equitable education and that state funds are wisely and fairly invested in every school district in the Commonwealth."

 Williams also pointed to a proposed increase in library funding (from $75.75 million to $77.3 million).

 "This continues Pennsylvania's tradition of supporting its public libraries and if the line item remains at $77.3 million in the final budget – which I will fight to see that it does – will represent Pennsylvania's largest investment in public libraries ever," Williams said.

 The proposal also supports efforts to extend health care for more Pennsylvanians, expand services for the disabled and address the needs of older adults.

 "Another key component of this year's budget proposal is the delivery of more than $850 million in property tax relief to Pennsylvania homeowners through gaming revenues," Williams said. "All of this can be accomplished without increasing taxes and while helping Pennsylvania families."

 An estimated $854 million in gaming revenue is expected to be available for property tax relief in 2008-09.

 In looking at the proposed investment to support life sciences and biotechnology, Williams, who is Democratic chair of the Senate Communications and Technology Committee said that she was delighted to see funding for the Life Sciences Greenhouses ($7.4 million) and an additional capital investment to encourage and support early stage start-ups and emerging life sciences companies.

 "This funding is indicative of Pennsylvania's support for this emerging technology," Williams said. "I will continue my efforts to support this industry. Obviously, very few people in the general assembly have the scientific background to join in the search for a cure for cancer, but we do know how to cut red tape and we understand the economic initiatives that can support industry growth. One of these issues is the elimination of the cap on net operating losses."

 The proposed $28.3 billion General Fund budget represents a 4.2 percent increase in spending over the current fiscal year budget. It proposes key investments in communities (raising the cap on Redevelopment Capital Assistance by $750 million, which would enable $1.5 billion in development projects to proceed), businesses (including additional funds for Business in Our Sites, a reduction in business loan interest rates and the continued phase out of the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax), health research facilities (by leveraging the state's Tobacco Settlement Funds to accelerate investments), and the environment (through an energy independence strategy that would help Pennsylvanians lower their energy costs and promote the use of clean energies and continued support for Growing Greener II).

 "There is no doubt that this is going to be one of the most challenging budget years in Pennsylvania," Williams said. "Still, it represents an opportunity for the state legislature to step up to the plate, adopt a spending plan that puts the needs of Pennsylvanians first, and work toward restoring public trust and confidence in the process.

 "Pennsylvania's families don't want to hear political rhetoric about 'zero growth budgets,' tax plans that pit generations against each other, or partisan bickering. They want to know how they are going to pay their utility bills, put food on their tables and ensure their children will not only have access to a quality education, but also that will have career opportunities waiting for them when they graduate."