Thompson Comments on End of Pennsylvania Budget Impasse
Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (PA-5) today expressed relief that the Commonwealth’s 267 day budget impasse will soon come to an end, after Gov. Wolf announced that he will not veto a recently passed funding bill. Included in the legislation is funding for school districts across the Commonwealth and for nonprofit agencies, which have both struggled during the impasse. Federally-appropriated funding will also be released for Penn State Extension, which faced the possibility of 1,100 layoffs as soon as May 1st.
In a statement regarding the news, Thompson said:
“While it is a relief the budget crisis will come to an end, I remain disappointed that children in schools across the state, members of our agricultural industry and those who depend on our state’s nonprofit agencies were held hostage throughout this budget process.
“It is my hope that the governor understands that funds appropriated by the federal government are not pawns to be used for political leverage – and that with talks underway on next fiscal year’s budget, that this crisis is avoided in the future.”