HARRISBURG – Gov. Edward G. Rendell wrote to leaders of the four legislative caucuses, asking that they keep all members of General Assembly in Harrisburg until legislators have approved a state budget and sent it to him for signature into law. Pennsylvania has been without a complete budget since the current fiscal year began on July 1.
The text of the Governor’s letter follows:
It has now been more than a full week since we stood together to announce our agreement on a budget that provides for $27.945 billion in state spending for fiscal year 2009/10, along with an agreement to raise the revenues necessary to responsibly pay for the budget this year and next. Since we announced the budget agreement, our staff has worked cooperatively to draft the legislation necessary to put this agreement into law.
It is not a surprise that through this drafting process differences have arisen that might cause our agreement to unravel. Despite this, we must all work with focus, perseverance and a sense of urgency to make sure that we have a budget as quickly as possible.
Therefore, I am asking that you require every member of the legislature to remain in Harrisburg until all the necessary budget legislation is on my desk for signature.
We must act swiftly because our counties, local governments, early childhood centers, health care institutions, environmental protection organizations, school districts, and colleges and universities are depending on us to get this budget enacted, and count on state funding to enable them to provide necessary help and aid to the citizens of the Commonwealth. Some of our social safety net organizations have closed their doors due to this budget impasse. Others must soon face this reality and have already made dramatic cuts, harming our working families. Failure to act now will simply mean more pain for vulnerable Pennsylvanians and the counties and other local institutions and the people they serve.
I realize that the national recession caused the state to lose $3.2 billion in revenue, which has forced us to make very difficult decisions. There simply cannot be a pain-free budget, given that reality. I believe these difficult decisions cannot be avoided and must be made now.
Sincerely,
Edward G. Rendell