Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans President Wayne Burton has issued the following statement to legislators regarding the budget negotiations and other legislative activity taking place in Harrisburg:

"During this budget season, we've heard a lot of news reports about 'priorities.' The Governor, the House Republican Leadership, the Senate Republican Leadership, the House Democratic Leadership, the Senate Republican Leadership and myriad interest groups are all fighting for their priorities. We have something radical to suggest – what about Pennsylvania's priorities?

"It's time to put away all the ideological games and focus on what Pennsylvanians need:

ŸRobust funding for public education through a fair funding formula that puts us on the path to the state's assuming half of the burden for school budgets – keeping property taxes down;

ŸFlat funding or increases for higher education items like public universities and community colleges, and full funding for job training programs, to prepare Pennsylvanians for family-sustaining jobs;

ŸFull funding for environmental inspection and enforcement to protect public health from the side effects of natural gas extraction.

"In order to accomplish these goals while dealing with a budget deficit from last year, legislators must reject the Governor's one-time budget gimmicks, put aside impractical ideologies and embrace new revenues that our state desperately needs. This is why the Alliance supports:

ŸA five percent extraction tax, in addition to the current impact fee,

ŸFull Medicaid Expansion to bring in federal dollars while saving the state money as well,

ŸClosing corporate tax loopholes that allow around three-fourths of companies operating in Pennsylvania to avoid paying income taxes at all,

ŸEnding the sales tax vendor discount – an antiquated tax giveaway,

ŸTaxing smokeless tobacco, ending our distinction of being the only state without such a tax,

ŸAn increase in the minimum wage, which will increase tax revenue.

"Of course, in order to accomplish a fair budget in a timely manner, it is imperative legislators abandon ill-conceived side projects that create divisions and are counter-productive to the cause. In one last bulleted list, we suggest legislators:

ŸReject the Tobash pension reform plan which will gut benefits and endanger current retirees by re-directing money away from the fund into personal accounts, but do little to reduce the pension debt, especially when combined with Governor Corbett's plans to spend any savings on short-term budget relief,

ŸReject the privatization of the Wine and Spirit Shops robbing the state of a valuable revenue stream we will need for future budgets and also hurt the economy,

ŸReject so-called "paycheck protection" that does nothing to save money while attacking the rights of working people.

"The 300,000 members and 150 affiliates of the PA Alliance for Retired Americans – as well as Pennsylvania voters – will be watching closely."

Wayne Burton

president

Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans