Updates regarding the budget for ECE

Since last Wednesday, nearly every legislative caucus and Governor Rendell have held press conferences regarding the budget negotiations. All sides are trying to put pressure on the others to come to a budget resolution before July 17, when state employees begin receiving "payless paychecks."

The Governor specifically addressed in his press conference on Monday, 7/13, how SB850 and the House Republican Amendment hurts children dramatically. "Are we going to be the type of place that neglects our children and sacrifices their success?"

As of Monday night, the House Appropriations Committee moved two budget bills to the House floor:

• HB 1416 with amendment - this bill starts with the Governor's February budget proposal and moves $1.2 billion of higher education line items out of the general fund budget and creates a new Higher Education Fund which would be funded through a tax increase (the type of tax wasn't specified). The amendment also cut $500 million from the Governor's February proposal.
o PA Pre-K Counts is cut to $80 million and 800 children will lose services.
o All other ECE lines are kept at the level requested by Governor Rendell.
• SB 850 - The original senate proposal was sent to the House floor (without the House Republican amendment) with "negative recommendation."

Attached is an updated chart of allocations and impact of the two bills before the House. We are not sure when these bills will go up for a vote at this point, but will keep you updated.

As you know, SB850 would cut nearly 20,000 children from early education services, resulting in at least 2,000 job cuts:

Program Children without services Possible jobs lost*
PA Pre-K Counts 6,000 762
Child Care Works 7,700 837
NFP 850 35
PCHP 165 18

Head Start Supplemental 2,800 390
Total 17,515 2007

Program Children without services Possible jobs lost*
PA Pre-K Counts kids: 6,000 jobs: 762
Child Care Works kids: 7,700 jobs: 837
NFP kids: 850 jobs: 35
PCHP kids: 165 jobs: 18
Head Start
Supplemental kids: 2,800 jobs: 390

TOTAL kids: 17,515 jobs: 2,007

*This is based on jobs providing direct services to children (teacher, teacher aide, nurse), does not include other jobs that may be affected if programs are downsized.


ACTION - UPDATED

Contact your state representatives and urge them to vote NO TO BOTH HB 1416 and to SB850. You can find your representatives at www.legis.state.pa.us or use our PA Promise email at http://paprom.convio.net/7-14-09.

• Both bills cut services for children to unacceptable levels. Although HB 1416 does protect many early education programs, it cuts nearly 1,000 children from PA Pre-K Counts
• SB 850 is an irresponsible budget that would cut nearly 20,000 children from early education services, cut at least 2,000 early education jobs directly, cause working parents to struggle to find less reliable care or lose their jobs as well.
• Early education programs such as PA Pre-K Counts, Keystone STARS, Child Care Works, Early Intervention, Nurse-Family Partnership and Head Start Supplemental are helping working parents keep their jobs and supporting economic recovery now, and prepare our young children for success in school and in the workforce in the future. Early education should be a high priority in the state budget.
• We can do better for our children.
• I support raising revenue to protect vital programs for Pennsylvanians.