Senator Hughes shared his thoughts on the spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year moments before the Pennsylvania Senate Democrats passed the 2019-20 budget Jueves. In his address, Senator Hughes pointed to several areas where the budget moved us forward:
Here are some specific areas where Pennsylvania was moved forward:
- $160 million increase to basic education
- $50 million increase to special education funding
- $25 million increase to Pre-K Counts
- $15 million for Early Intervention initiatives
- $5 million increase to Head Start funding
- $5 million increase to public library funding
- 2 percent increase to higher education across the board
- $2.5 million increase to Gun Violence Task Force funding
- 10 percent increase to domestic violence and rape prevention funding
- Increases to technical education funding
- Increase in domestic violence and rape prevention funding
- Supports veterans and their families through the PA GI Bill
- Protects school community and anti-violence initiatives, such as Sen. Hughes Safe2Say
This budget reflects the political realities that exist in Pennsylvania with a Republican controlled General Assembly:
- We still need to raise the minimum wage from $7.25
- We must help vulnerable citizens, such as those who had the General Assistance program ripped away
- Fund billions in school infrastructure needs in Philadelphia and across the commonwealth
- Support Gov. Tom Wolf’s Restore PA plan, which would tax the shale industry to improve multiple facets of infrastructure across the state
- Inadequate funding of County Child Welfare services
- Fund supplemental requests for criminal justice