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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 19, 2009
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Sen. Orie Votes to Release
State Funding for Rape Crisis, Domestic Violence Programs
Seeking to keep vital
government programs and services operating while budget negotiations
continue, Senator Jane Orie (R-Allegheny) voted to override a number of
Governor Rendell's recent line item vetoes of Senate Bill 850. Despite
unanimous Republican support and a vote from a lone Democrat, Senator Lisa
Boscola (D-18), the veto override failed when the remaining 19 Democrats
voted against the measures – which require a two-thirds majority. Had it
succeeded in both the Senate and House, funding would have begun flowing to
programs that the Governor cut.
Two line-item vetoes Senator
Orie strongly opposed and offered a motion to override were Rendell's
decision to cut funding for rape crisis and domestic violence programs.
Many of those centers will start to shut their doors in the very near future
because this funding has not been restored, leaving victims with no safety
net.
The programs that Senator Orie
attempted to restore include:
- Domestic Violence, $12.5 million
- Rape Crisis, $7.1 million
"It is unconscionable that
the Governor could allow women and children to be put in danger simply to
gain support for more taxes and higher spending," Orie said. "These victims
of rape and domestic violence, which includes thousands of children, should
not be used as pawns in the budget debate. Denying them services is simply
not an option."
"I find this incomprehensible
because I believe you would want to do everything humanly possible to ensure
that the victims receive the vital and necessary services that they
desperately need. Instead the Governor has chosen to use the victims of
sexual assault, domestic violence and rape as human shields for his own
political agenda."
Orie also criticized the
Governor for attempting to create a crisis atmosphere by holding a number of
programs and services hostage, including drug and alcohol treatment
programs, homeless assistance, veterans outreach services - all in addition
to the domestic violence and rape crisis programs he has endangered.
"The Senate funded these social
service programs at the amount the Governor proposed. The Governor chose to
eliminate these appropriations simply to gain political leverage. It's
unnecessary still, and it will hurt the state's neediest residents," Orie said.
"I'm disappointed and angry that we could not restore funding for these
important programs – the money is there and it should be released."
Among the line items which the
Governor vetoed despite the fact that Senate Bill 850 funded them at exactly the
amount he recommended are:
- Homeless Assistance, $25.6 million
- Veterans' Educational Assistance, $7.0 million
- Veterans' Outreach Services, $1.7 million
- Veterans' Assistance, $428,000
- Disabled Veterans' Transportation, $350,000
Override votes also took place on
several additional line items under which the lack of state funding is having an
immediate and dramatic negative impact on Pennsylvania residents, including:
- PHEAA Grants to Students, $386.2 million
- Community Mental Retardation Programs, $158.4 million
- Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program, $9.9
million
Senator Orie added that there is
existing funding for the programs that were attempted to be restored.
Additional motions were ready to
be considered for the following items, however, after 6 attempts and no success
in persuading any members to switch their vote they are being held over for
consideration on another day:
- Assistance to Drug and Alcohol Programs, $41.8 million
- State Food Purchase (Food Banks), $18.0 million
- Farmers' Market Food Coupons, $2.2 million
- County Child Welfare, $1.04 billion
- Child Care Assistance, $198.1 million
- Child Care Services, $159.8 million
- Children's Health Insurance, $86.9 million
"Governor Rendell certified more
than $25 billion in available revenue," she said. "He signed less than $11
billion of spending into law, and the overrides considered today total less than
$2.2 billion. The funding is available for these important services, and there
is no reason they should be held hostage in this budget impasse."
CONTACT:
Mike Sarfert, General Counsel at (717) 787-6538
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