HARRISBURG, June 29, 2012 –   Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione today released the following statement on the final 2012-13 budget:

“I commend the thousands of Pennsylvanians who took the time to come to Harrisburg over the past five months for their persistence and determination in moving this budget from where it started in February to what was passed today.

I also want to thank some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for recognizing the governor’s proposal for what it was and understanding its potential impact on our most vulnerable citizens.

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Despite the efforts of citizens and the understanding of my colleagues, this budget fails the test put forth a half century ago by the writer Pearl S. Buck who said we ‘must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the young or be deserted by them, for the test of a civilization is the way that it cares for its helpless members. 

This budget, along with changes in the welfare code, allows our seniors to fear being deserted by the government they supported throughout their lives.

This budget takes its pain and payment from working families, minimum-wage workers, the nameless, the frail and the seniors who are struggling to live at home.

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This budget makes its promises and payments to the powerful, the privileged and the faceless corporations that live in mailboxes in Wilmington, Delaware.

Even as we claim to have no more money to spend, we are paying for those mailboxes in Delaware.

Our students are paying.  Our homeowners are paying.  Our college graduates are paying.

This budget lets the previous generation, and the next generation, pay the price for the politics of this generation.”