Sen. Tartaglione Votes ‘No’ on Republican Do-Nothing Budget

HARRISBURG, June 30, 2015 – State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione today voted against the Republican state budget proposal for 2015-2016, saying it falls far short of the needed investments in education, workers and taxpayers.

“Many people believed we were heading in a new and better direction when the voters elected Tom Wolf to replace Tom Corbett,” Tartaglione said, “but the nightmare Corbett budget strategies continue.

“Voters overwhelmingly said they want someone who better understands the need to invest in our children and their education, to increase the minimum wage for people working in poverty, and to finally adopt an impactful property tax reform bill.

“Instead, we received a steamrolled Republican budget that looks too much like the past Corbett budgets, and all of Pennsylvania should shiver thinking about how this will continue to hold us back,” the senator said.

“I’ve heard Republican lawmakers say they, too, were granted a mandate because they increased their majorities in the House and Senate during the November election, but let me remind them that they merely enjoyed the fruits of their partisan redistricting efforts.

“This sham budget is not what Philadelphians and Pennsylvanians want or need,” Tartaglione said.

The Philly Democrat said the budget proposal heading to Gov. Wolf should include a significant natural gas extraction tax, a minimum wage increase to $10.10 an hour, liquor modernization (not a sell-off), less dependence on one-time budget tricks, and the restoration of the basic education funds that were siphoned away from school teachers and students for the past four years.

“Gov. Wolf has promised a veto, and I am waiting to see that happen,” Tartaglione said. “Once it does happen, House and Senate Democrats – who were blocked from contributing to this budget bill – will make sure a better job is done to be more equitable to Philadelphians and everyone in the commonwealth.”

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Sen. Tartaglione to Again Chair Labor & Industry Committee, Serve on Others

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 15, 2015 – State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione announced that she will once again hold an influential seat to continue fighting for labor rights and an increase in the minimum wage as the Democratic chair of the Senate Labor and Industry Committee.

“Serving as the Democratic Chair of this important panel ensures that thousands of working Pennsylvanians, including many who work for the lowest of wages, will continue to have a voice in Harrisburg,” Tartaglione said. “I am hopeful that a pledge of greater bipartisanship and a governor who supports a higher minimum wage will combine with my fervent desire to increase Pennsylvania’s minimum wage soon.”

Sen. Tartaglione said she will introduce her new minimum wage package of proposals later this month.

In addition to Labor and Industry, the six-term lawmaker will serve on Appropriations, Banking and Insurance, Law and Justice, Policy, and the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness committees.

For the 2015-2016 legislative session, Sen. Tartaglione has committed to focus on legislation dealing with gun violence, people with disabilities and delivering heart and lung benefits to paramedics.

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Follow Sen. Christine Tartaglione on Facebook and her website.