With state legislators scrambling to develop a budget that responds to the many needs and desires of Pennsylvanians, Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) today released an analysis showing proposed cuts are spread across a number of programs that would affect children and families adversely. In addition to major cuts to higher education and basic education, the Governor has proposed cuts to early childhood education, full day kindergarten; libraries; behavioral health services; child abuse prevention and disabled children.
Shelly Yanoff, Executive Director of PCCY, said the organization believes in responding “to the needs of the whole child.” The Governor has proposed spending $27.3 billion next year and Republican House and Senate leaders have vowed to enforce this limit. “This budget threatens the ability of every family to raise healthy, educated and well-adjusted children who are prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow,” Yanoff said. “By refusing to increase the ‘spend number,’ the budget forces Pennsylvanians to chose among basic services that most middle and low- income families need.”
These are untenable choices for the majority of Pennsylvania children and families according to Yanoff, because they harm families and our states’ prospects of economic recovery. PCCY has called on state officials to raise revenue from Pennsylvania’s largest corporations before cutting programs for children and youth.
PCCY’s review of the budget is available at www.childrenfirstpa.org/pastatebudgetreview