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 Thursday. 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