Bipartisan Budget Solution Will Provide Funding for Schools, Basic Services
Earlier today the Pennsylvania State House Finance Committee voted in favor of HB 1401, which would utilize funds gathered by from a severance tax of the state’s natural gas drilling industry to fund schools, critical services, and additional workers at the state’s Department of Environmental Quality to process permits in a timely manner.
Following the vote, the BlueGreen Alliance released the following statement from Pennsylvania Regional Program Manager Khari Mosley:
“It’s been three-and-a-half months since our state had a budget and this proposal can generate the funding needed to support our schools and other vital services. Under it, we would become one of 37 states that have implemented similar taxes, including West Virginia, Texas, and Wyoming.
“We thank the committee for moving forward this common-sense, bipartisan proposal to fix Pennsylvania’s structural deficit in a way that will provide much needed resources to schools and other vital services. Now, we hope that the full House and Senate will approve this measure as soon as possible.”